Fixing a noisy fan w/a drop of oil

[Petef56]

As explained in the article below, a drop of oil can often fix a noisy fan. I've been doing this for many years as I expect many of you have too. Every time I've done this to a virgin fan that became noisy, I never see any signs of previous lubrication by the manufacturer. Why is that? Why doesn't the manufacturer oil these fans???

BTW: My preference for lubrication is a fine machine oil containing Teflon.

---pete---


http://www.techrepublic.com/article/...of-oil/5034842

[MaxRat]

most of them are Bronze impregnated bushings.... no lubricant needed. Or should I say for a while

[glc]

Oiling a fan usually only shuts it up for a while, it's going to get noisy again pretty soon.

[MaxRat]

I have been taking them apart and cleaning them with Alcohol and then coating them with Finish-Line Teflon Grease (synthetic) so far they're still running.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by glc Oiling a fan usually only shuts it up for a while, it's going to get noisy again pretty soon.

glc, if that's your experience, perhaps it's the type of oil that makes a big difference. Maxrat claims he has "oiled" fans still running for what I presume is years of service. I can say the same. So it might be the Teflon type oil that works so well.

I only have to replace a fan when there is so much wear in the bushings that oiling no longer calms it down.

BTW: I was motivated to start this thread after having to oil an extremely noisy fan in a video card that was only about 1 year old. That's crazy. It makes me wonder if we should be Teflon oiling all new bushing style fans we install into computers to ensure years of trouble free service.

---pete---

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by MaxRat I have been taking them apart and cleaning them with Alcohol and then coating them with Finish-Line Teflon Grease (synthetic) so far they're still running.

For my own computers, I typically oil them by adding a drop of the "Teflon oil". If it becomes noisy again, I'll replace it with a new fan or I'll disassemble and clean with alcohol or a degreaser spray using Q-tips to remove any residue. Then apply the Teflon oil. (Archer Precision Lubricator Cat # 64-2301a). I'm pretty sure I have some case bushing type fans here running for 24/7 for over 12 years.

For my customers, I typically replace the noisy fans unless it's a fan that's not easily replaced.

---pete---

[MaxRat]

I have had video card and chipset fans where that hasnt worked. Mostly because, like you say, it was shipped without grease perhaps. The other is maybe the owner just left it go and it actually fried the fans electronics? It just wasnt right after the oiling.

I try to catch them right at the beginning and grease them. It did take some trial and error to find what works. I did use Engine Assembly lube or Camshaft lube cut down thinner but that was still too thick and the fan wouldnt spin the rated speed when cold.

I tried the teflon grease after getting a tube to assemble a bicycle for my kid and I figured try it and see....so far so good.

I will say in most instances its easier for the common person to just replace the fan than it is to tear it apart and clean and grease one. If they dont know the plastic ring that holds the shaft in will fly away and disappear that renders the fan useless...

The worst for me was a video card fan. I had built my father a PC that he left his wife use for her business and she had it on a carpeted floor next to a cat litter box... the fan on the video card was gunked up with what I can only explain as urine mist and cat littler dust... the fan had stopped moving and actually melted the plastic blades on the fan and turned it from a clear to a burnt brown it melted that bad.... yuck

[doubledragon5]

Originally Posted by Petef56 glc, if that's your experience, perhaps it's the type of oil that makes a big difference. Maxrat claims he has "oiled" fans still running for what I presume is years of service. I can say the same. So it might be the Teflon type oil that works so well. I only have to replace a fan when there is so much wear in the bushings that oiling no longer calms it down. BTW: I was motivated to start this thread after having to oil an extremely noisy fan in a video card that was only about 1 year old. That's crazy. It makes me wonder if we should be Teflon oiling all new bushing style fans we install into computers to ensure years of trouble free service. ---pete---

If you do that, then there would be no reason for any one to buy new fans. Which means the manufacture would go out of business... BTW I like your tip...

[jdeb]

I replace them.

[Khalil]

For me time is of the essence, I cannot afford to spend a lot of my time lubing $2 case fans

[DOS_equis]

Originally Posted by MaxRat I have had video card and chipset fans where that hasnt worked. Mostly because, like you say, it was shipped without grease perhaps. The other is maybe the owner just left it go and it actually fried the fans electronics? It just wasnt right after the oiling. I try to catch them right at the beginning and grease them. It did take some trial and error to find what works. I did use Engine Assembly lube or Camshaft lube cut down thinner but that was still too thick and the fan wouldnt spin the rated speed when cold. I tried the teflon grease after getting a tube to assemble a bicycle for my kid and I figured try it and see....so far so good. I will say in most instances its easier for the common person to just replace the fan than it is to tear it apart and clean and grease one. If they dont know the plastic ring that holds the shaft in will fly away and disappear that renders the fan useless... The worst for me was a video card fan. I had built my father a PC that he left his wife use for her business and she had it on a carpeted floor next to a cat litter box... the fan on the video card was gunked up with what I can only explain as urine mist and cat littler dust... the fan had stopped moving and actually melted the plastic blades on the fan and turned it from a clear to a burnt brown it melted that bad.... yuck

A friend of mine had an old Dell or Gateway PC that he said was having a problem with the graphics (freezeups/ corruption). I popped the PC open and the inside was full of dust and crap. The VGA card had the fan completely fall off due to the heat and I mean not hanging by the wires or whatever. It was sitting in the bottom of the case. The heat had got so bad that it softened the solder joints on the leads going to the fan motor and let it fall off the card. I couldn't believe that the card didn't crap out before then. We ended up just using the onboard video since he didn't want to sink anymore money in the machine if he could help it.


DOS_equis

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by Khalil For me time is of the essence, I cannot afford to spend a lot of my time lubing $2 case fans

Yeah, that's why I stated earlier that I mainly use the lube trick for my own computers or on fans that are difficult to find replacements for. My experience is that you can typically get another year or so of service from a lubed fan before having to lube it again.

For me it's not so much a time issue, but rather, a reliability issue. For circumstances where best reliability is desired, I say install a new fan.

---pete---