A method for the assessment of the dispersing capacity of new and used lubricating compositions, in particular for internal combustion engines, and of additives for lubricating compositions, comprises the steps of: providing a homogeneous dispersion of at least one carbonaceous particulate in a composition to be tested, consisting of a lubricating composition or a fraction or component thereof; acquiring at least one micrographic image of a sample of said homogeneous dispersion, deposited on an observation support; calculating the lacunarity of the acquired image as a parameter representative of the degree of dispersion of the particulate in the composition.