How to relubricate/service a troublesome or noisy fan.

[Divide Overflow]

I've always used a couple of drops of gun oil on my serviceable fans when they needed it.
Great thread! @lexluthermiester

 

[67Elco]

I would be tempted to fall back on ATF...it's a miracle fluid.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Good job.

Thank You!

I thought pc fans are not meant to lubricate.

It depends on who makes it and how it's made.

They aren't.

That's not completely true. The ones with the gaskets are easily serviced and as that is a deliberate design choice, one could say they intend it.

Like many products out there, the manufacturers would much rather we buy new fans rather than repair them ourselves.

Sadly this IS likely true. It's also very environmentally irresponsible.

Note doing so will surely void any warranty - but odds are any warranty the fan had has long expired.

This!

I would be tempted to fall back on ATF...it's a miracle fluid.

ATF has a downside. Because of the formulation, it can degrade certain plastics over time. It's best to stay with fluids and compounds designed and intended as lubricants instead of those designed for use as hydraulic fluid.

 

[thesmokingman]

I use bike teflon lube in a syringe, been doing it this way for years on my Typhoons which some are nearing a decade old now.

 

[67Elco]

ATF has a downside. Because of the formulation, it can degrade certain plastics over time. It's best to stay with fluids and compounds designed and intended as lubricants instead of those designed for use as hydraulic fluid.

I would wonder what type of plastics because automatic transmissions these days are full of plastic components and they withstand the extreme temperatures as well. There are also many automotive manual transmissions that only use ATF as a lubricant. Odd how ATF would possibly degrade plastics and engine oil does not. I've used ATF on the paint of the rear fenderwells/quarter panels on all my race vehicles for decades with zero problems...keeps tire rubber from adhering to the paint and makes cleanup a breeze. Take note that most all transmission cases/pans are painted and are usually covered with ATF...none of the paint is affected.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I would wonder what type of plastics because automatic transmissions these days are full of plastic components and they withstand the extreme temperatures as well.

It's not common, but have seen ATF used as a lube and cause plastics and paint degradation.

 

[Bill_Bright]

That's not completely true.

It is completely true. I don't want to go around and around with you again on this. I will point out the obvious then move on.

The ones with the gaskets are easily serviced and as that is a deliberate design choice, one could say they intend it.

Just because something can be easily serviced, that IN NO WAY means the manufacturer intended it be serviced.

If one knows how to use a Philips screwdriver, they could easily open up and replace a failing fan inside a power supply. Does that mean the PSU maker "intended" the PSU to be easily opened or serviced by the user? Of course not.

Bearings and motors intended to be easily serviced are easy to identify. First and foremost, they have a permanent service or access "port" or something similar that has some sort of cover, removable "plug" or a flip-up lid, or a grease nipple. It will have some sort of access method that was intentionally designed by the manufacturer to be opened then closed again to create a proper seal after the relubrication.

A sticker covering the bearings is not designed be peeled back then seal again. That is, it is not intended by the manufacturer to be peeled off and certainly is not designed to be pushed back down, properly stick or create a new leakproof or resistant seal. That's the big difference.

Also, bearings and motors that are designed and intended by the manufacturer to be relubricated will typically have some sort of label indicating what type of lubrication to use when lubricating.

Why? Because there are many different types of lubricants. There are silicone based lubricants, petroleum based lubricants, mineral oil based lubricants, greases, even synthetic lubricants and more. And there are all sorts of different viscosities too. But worse, many lubricants are excellent at breaking down (totally destroying!!!) other lubricants. This is how some oils can be used actually break down and clean grease off other parts.

Using the wrong lubricant on bearings can actually speed up the wear and tear on those bearings. Mixing lubricants can even destroy the lubricating properties of whatever that new concoction is. So, if there is no label telling the user which type lubricant to use, they can only guess.

Computer fans are cheap. And certainly, if the bearings seize, the fan is not going to fly apart spewing blades or deadly shards of fan housings about. And the life of a fan certainly can be extended by properly relubricating the bearings. NO DENYING THAT. But "IF" these fan motors "need" to be relubricated, the damage has already been done. Wear on the bearings or the bearing channels cannot be undone. And wear will continue. You might be able to slow additional wear down, but not stop it. So in the meantime, I recommend shopping for a replacement fan.

 

[Shrek]

I would be tempted to fall back on ATF...it's a miracle fluid.

Is steering fluid basically the same?

 

[67Elco]

Is steering fluid basically the same?

Not certain, but probably close. Older power steering systems used to use ATF, but things have changed.

 

[Shrek]

For me the issue is detergents which keep particles in solution; electric motor bearings prefer detergent free oil.

I have been using engine oil which has detergents and should perhaps be using ATF or steering fluid.

 

[lexluthermiester]

For me the issue is detergents which keep particles in solution; motor bearings prefer detergent free oil.

I have been using motor oil which has detergents and should perhaps be using ATF or steering fluid.

I've never had any issues using oils with detergents. They don't cause any extra wear and will not damage ball or sleeve bearings.

 

[Bill_Bright]

For me the issue is detergents which keep particles in solution; motor bearings prefer detergent free oil.

I agree. Note the comment about non-detergent lubricants here:

For electric fan motors, it’s an important thing to consider that, the lubricant is fully free from the particles of detergent. A non-detergent lubricant saves the motor from friction and works like an oil lubricant. On the other hand, if the lubricant consists of detergent, then it will leave terrible scratches on the surface. Also, it will not help in reducing corrosion at all.

And again here:

Only Use Non-Detergent Oils​

Detergent oils contain detergent additives or ingredients that trap and breakdown contaminants. They are good for cleaning mechanical equipment but because of their propensity to collect dirt, when used as a lubricating oil, they can create a sludgy buildup on the bearings, impeding their movement and placing strain on the ceiling fan motor.

Non-detergent oils do not contain such detergent additives and, thus, these effects are avoided. The oil is able to coat the bearings without gumming them up and that is why these types of oils are highly recommended for ceiling fan use.

The reason is simple and makes total sense, if one just thinks about it for a second. In car motors, for example, where detergent based motor oils are commonly used, the oil is constantly being circulated and filtered through the oil filter. The filter removes those particles the detergent has isolated from the lubricant.

In a fan motor, there are no filters for the lubricant.

 

[Shrek]

Then shame on me for using engine oil, given that I have a bottle of fully synthetic steering fluid.

I drive a stick shift, so no ATF

 

[lexluthermiester]

Then shame on me for using engine oil

Feel free to keep using it. I've been doing so for over 30 years with NO ill effects. Fans last longer, run quieter and work perfectly for many years. Detergents do not do any harm.

 

[67Elco]

Then shame on me for using engine oil, given that I have a bottle of fully synthetic steering fluid.

I drive a stick shift, so no ATF

There are many manual transmissions out there that use ATF.

 

[the54thvoid]

Hi folks, please stick to the spirit of the thread which is about self servicing noisy fans. Bringing in motor vehicle applications isn't really relevant. Likewise, TPU members know they carry out any self repairs at their own risk, so arguing over the nitty gritty seems pointless.

 

[67Elco]

Hi folks, please stick to the spirit of the thread which is about self servicing noisy fans. Bringing in motor vehicle applications isn't really relevant. Likewise, TPU members know they carry out any self repairs at their own risk, so arguing over the nitty gritty seems pointless.

Well, I don't really see any arguing and motor vehicle lubricants are being employed so more information can be helpful...

 

[lexluthermiester]

Well, I don't really see any arguing

That is because the user deliberately being a troublemaker is being ignored.

 

[67Elco]

That is because the user deliberately being a troublemaker is being ignored.

Which should be your decision as well. I think everyone here is able to cypher the fine points.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Which should be your decision as well. I think everyone here is able to cypher the fine points.

Right.

Been reading some info on ATF as a lubricant. For ball-bearings, it's seemingly a great choice. For sleeve-bearings, less so. The logic behind this is that ATF has no natural "cling" properties, it just doesn't want to stay where you put it. Greases generally do, but can be very viscus. Heavier oils are somewhere in between and actually do stay where you put them.

 

[67Elco]

Right.

Been reading some info on ATF as a lubricant. For ball-bearings, it's seemingly a great choice. For sleeve-bearings, less so. The logic behind this is that ATF has no natural "cling" properties, it just doesn't want to stay where you put it. Greases generally do, but can be very viscus. Heavier oils are somewhere in between and actually do stay where you put them.

I agree that grease would be the proper medium, but it would be difficult to employ properly in these miniscule situations. Likely anything we do will add to the service life in the end.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I agree that grease would be the proper medium, but it would be difficult to employ properly in these miniscule situations.

Right. This is why I discussed in the OP the oil/grease blend I mix with the bottles shown in the photo's. It's the best of both worlds and works wonderfully well. I came up with that mix 25 years ago to solve a complete different problem and found it works as a bearing lube.

 

[Shrek]

I am lazy and argue that the old grease matrix will soak up the oil...

 

[67Elco]

I am lazy and argue that the oil grease matrix will soak up the oil...

There you go arguing again...

 

[Shrek]

That should have read, the old dried up grease matrix