This study computes the friction force during splat sliding in the plasma-sprayed Al-Si coating based on the instrumented depth-sensing nanoindentation and microindentation experiments. A small intersplat friction force (approximately 10(-4) N) contributes to the occurrence of the splat sliding. As compared with nanoindentation, more and more splat sliding occurs during microindentation because of the increase in the applied load, which accounts for the approximately 26% loss of the elastic modulus.