Tribological maps on powder-pack borided and non-borided AISI 316L steel under a Hank’s solution medium, during linear reciprocating sliding wear tests with a ball-on-flat configuration, are presented with the aim of elucidating the role of the operating environment on wear mechanisms and tribological performance. 2D maps obtained by Response Surface Methodology showed the coefficient of friction, wear volume and specific wear rate as a function of load and sliding speed. Findings showed k for the non-borided AISI 316L steel was between 5.40 and 34.90 ×10−6 mm3/Nm, while it was between 2.37 and 4.91 ×10−6 mm3/Nm for the borided AISI 316L steel. Grooving, smearing, plastic deformation and the formation of a passive film were the identified wear mechanisms on the wear tracks using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Display omitted •Sliding wear tests under Hank’s solution of borided AISI 316L steel are reported.•Wear maps in terms of load and sliding speed for wet sliding tests are reported.•2D maps of CoF and wear rate were obtained by Response Surface Methodology.•On borided AISI 316L steel a passive film predominated on the wear track surfaces.•A passive layer enhances wear performance under Hank’s solution for AISI 316L steel.