How to relubricate/service a troublesome or noisy fan.

[natr0n]

I did 3 - 200mm fans last week they are fairly new fans too.

They all spin faster using a special grease. few more rpm 5-10 extra

Did full on surgery but well worth.

 

[Bill_Bright]

There you go arguing again...

Just because someone has a different viewpoint than you, that does not mean they are arguing, nor does it mean they are wrong. It certainly could mean you are intolerant of anyone who would dare pose a viewpoint different from yours - thus you lash out with personal affronts against them. And that's sad.

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

I agree that grease (depending on type and viscosity) would be better. But disagree it would be difficult to employ - unless you are afraid to get your finger greasy. LOL

It is simple to "pack" bearings or a bearing chamber with grease. You just scoop a blob of grease onto your finger and squish it in there until full, then be done.

Oil that you apply by dripping "drops" from a can is the wrong lubricant for a fan that is not sealed - unless the fan is designed for that type of lubricant. And computer fans are not. Plain and simple.

Why?

Gravity. Computer fans (either case, GPU or CPU fans) are not sealed tight. And they are designed to be mounted horizontally (with airflow pointed up or down) or mounted vertically in desktop or tower cases. If your lubricant will "run" or "flow" down when a drop is applied to the side of a vertical surface like a mirror or refrigerator, it will run or flow (or be flung) out of the bearing chamber of the fan simply because those chambers are not sealed.

If your lubricant is stored in a bottle or can and you "pour" (or drip) that lubricant out of its container, the viscosity is too low to be used effectively in computer fans - at least not for very long. That means motor oils, ATF fluid, 3-in-One oil and similar "fluid" type lubricants are the wrong type. Those bearings require high viscosity (thick) greases, or very thick oils that are NOT affected by gravity. That is, lubricants that cannot run or "work" their way out of those unsealed bearing chambers.

Motors that truly are sealed often use low viscosity lubricants simply because that lubricant cannot escape. There are no openings through which it can. A sticker over the fan hub of a computer case fan, or CPU cooler fan is not a true seal. It is essentially, just a dust cover.

Any lubricant is better than none. But that does not mean any lubricant is the right lubricant for the job.

They all spin faster using a special grease. few more rpm 5-10 extra

The goal should be "smoother", not faster. Faster may be a side benefit if friction from inadequate lubrication and/or uneven wear was already slowing the fan down. Generally, fans are designed to spin at specific speeds depending on the voltage applied. The goal should be to ensure they spin freely, and not "grind" away from friction.

 

[lexluthermiester]

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

It really doesn't, or at least I've never seen it happen on any of my fans, and I've had a few of them for nearly 20 years.

 

[lexluthermiester]

They all spin faster using a special grease. few more rpm 5-10 extra

What grease did you use? I'm always open to new methods and supplies.

 

[Shrek]

It really doesn't, or at least I've never seen it happen on any of my fans, and I've had a few of them for nearly 20 years.

My bad; I meant it would soak up the oil to form a new grease. Didn't mean to imply it would remove the oil.

 

[natr0n]

What grease did you use? I'm always open to new methods and supplies.

lucas white lithium

you have to go all in and do surgery. remove washer clean up any oils with cotton/paper towel, use alcohol then qtip the shaft with grease and the inner bearing. then reassemble.

 

[KLiKzg]

Now we're going to look at a fan that is NOT easily serviced. This is uncommon, but they do exist. This example is from a Sparkle GeForce GTX560 2GB model.
View attachment 291976View attachment 291977

Here is the fan dismounted from the heatsink.
View attachment 291978View attachment 291979

And again we lift up the label.
View attachment 291980

Had similar issues with shitty products from Gigabyte. They have placed 3 bearing on 90° angles of 360° circle. This design is "prone to go after 2y of service".

Replacement, over support - NONE.

Talking with Gigabyte support - WASTE of time.


Never again will get Gigabyte products in my computer(s).

 

[Bill_Bright]

you have to go all in and do surgery. remove washer clean up any oils with cotton/paper towel, use alcohol then qtip the shaft with grease and the inner bearing. then reassemble.

^^^This^^^

That's how you do it. If you don't know what lubricant was there originally, the correct way to do it is to totally clean the bearings and the channels they run in, then re-lube with your new lubricant of choice. This prevents any possibility of cross-contamination with different types of lubricants that may not be compatible.

You are becoming a bit of a dullard in this thread.

Submitting a reply that adds nothing of value for the OP's topic just to lash out at someone you disagree with with puerile name calling just illustrates my point about intolerance perfectly. Well done.

 

[67Elco]

Submitting a reply that adds nothing of value for the OP's topic just to lash out at someone you disagree with with puerile name calling just illustrates my point about intolerance perfectly. Well done.

The parts you left out... "My comment was meant in humor and sarcasm which the member understood...unlike you. My apologies lex...I grow weary quickly."
Your "my way or the highway" attitude is wearing thin here.

 

[Shrek]

There are many manual transmissions out there that use ATF.

Honda use something for their manual transmissions that I read smells like honey, I wonder what it is and ... if it is suited to computer fans.

 

[95Viper]

Stay on topic.
Stop the insults.
Discuss civilly.
You have been warned by a previous moderator... if it continues warnings and thread bans will be forthcoming.

 

[Franz]

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

Never use transmission fluids/oils in bearings especially sleeve ones, trasmissions lubs have a controled slipery ratio because ALL tranny work with friction, thats why oils and fluids has ATF 1, 2, 3, 4.... and GL 2, 3, 4, 5.

Motor oil is the opposed of gear oil, with this oil you will get the less friction possible and for high gap bearing like pc fans I recommend 20W50 or even 25W60 oils, not need to be sinthetic, believe me you can get the same friction coefficient with mineral and sinth oil.... Sinthetics are made to hold much more pression, heat and fuel contamination. In a fan you will have NONE of them......

Just spill a drop and leave some hours for the oil penetrates in the bearing, lithium grease can be used too it designed for bearings but you must disasemble the fan, oil will be more easy and reliable for sure.

Diesel oils are high detergent.

Detergent does nothing here, only in fuel remains

 

[lexluthermiester]

My bad; I meant it would soak up the oil to form a new grease. Didn't mean to imply it would remove the oil.

Ah, right. You talking about any existing older lubes. Missed your context there.

lucas white lithium

you have to go all in and do surgery. remove washer clean up any oils with cotton/paper towel, use alcohol then qtip the shaft with grease and the inner bearing. then reassemble.

I've used Lithium grease on drive rails and contact plates. Can't remember if I've ever trying it on rotational bearings. Kinda curious now.

 

[natr0n]

Ah, right. You talking about any existing older lubes. Missed your context there.


I've used Lithium grease on drive rails and contact plates. Can't remember if I've ever trying it on rotational bearings. Kinda curious now.

It works well since it doesnt run/drip almost like zero friction.

 

[de.das.dude]

i call plagiarism

How to maintain your fans, Also how to succesfully perform fan surgery

also sneekypeet is considering stickying this thread, so its a good time to voice your opinions. if this gets stickied, i would have finally done something worthwhile in my life. Sticky! Saved me a few bucks. Thanks de.das.dude! poll time :) wanna redo this thread as i have a nice camera now...

www.techpowerup.com

although the pics died in my thread

 

[lexluthermiester]

i call plagiarism

How to maintain your fans, Also how to succesfully perform fan surgery

also sneekypeet is considering stickying this thread, so its a good time to voice your opinions. if this gets stickied, i would have finally done something worthwhile in my life. Sticky! Saved me a few bucks. Thanks de.das.dude! poll time :) wanna redo this thread as i have a nice camera now...

www.techpowerup.com

although the pics died in my thread

Never saw that thread before now. I also do my own thing and have a different methodology. No offense was intended.

Edit: What's with the laugh? I'm being sincere. Or were you joking?

 

[Waldorf]

@natr0n
so far all the (automotive) lithium/silicone based stuff i used,
attracts dirt, thus dust..

@Franz
except they can go rancid with time, and i dont really care for that kind of smell,
i rather invest a coin more and use synth based..

 

[Bill_Bright]

so far all the (automotive) lithium/silicone based stuff i used,
attracts dirt, thus dust..

Unless contained in a totally sealed environment, I don't see how any lubricant, regardless its base, would not. All lubricants must have some "stickiness" to them so they continue to coat the surfaces they are lubricating.

"Attract" is the wrong word (but I don't know another more appropriate). These lubricants do not "attract" dust and dirt in the way a magnet uses magnetic forces to attract electrons, or how a pretty flower uses colors and scents to "lure" bees. But should any dust, dirt or lint particle come wandering by, perhaps pushed along by air flow from the fan, and runs into the lube, it will stick.

That is exactly why these computer fans have that seal/sticker over the bearing chamber - to keep dust and dirt out. To prevent such build up after re-lubing, the outer housing must be thoroughly cleaned of old lubricant (so a new seal with stick) and then a new seal must be properly applied. Once the old sticker/seal is removed, it will never make a quality seal again, so much be replaced.

IMO, you make a good argument to ensure the use of a quality case, properly configured to draw all cooling air in through quality air filters. Of course, even the best filters will let some crud though so a quality filter will at least greatly delay any contamination from dust buildup.

 

[Waldorf]

@Bill_Bright
should have said it differently:
even +8y ago when i was working in a auto part store, we had at least 2 products claiming to be less/non "sticky/attractive"
to dirt, i expect this to be the case more often now with other products, but im not in the states nor a part store, so...

 

[Bill_Bright]

Well, I'm aware of some heavy greases that are designed to be exposed to the elements - on suspensions and other moving parts for example - that develop a waxy surface film on the outer surfaces after short time being exposed to air. And that certainly would be resistant to "attracting" dust and dirt. But underneath that "skin", it was still "gooey", if you will (clearly indicating I have no clue as the proper terms! ).

But of course, computer fan motors are not expected to be exposed to the elements.

 

[Waldorf]

naah, actually spray/liquid that turns to "solid" after thinners evaporate.
still, probably a PITA to use/apply to fan bearings.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Ah. I believe some Teflon based lubes work that way. I note for my bike chain, I use a Teflon lube and it is called a "dry" lubricant. It claims it is resistant to "collecting" dirt. So maybe that's the better word; "collecting" rather than "attracting"?

That said, I think we are wondering a bit off-topic, again.

 

[Shrek]

Chain Lube is sticky and I wonder if this might be a good thing for computer fans (it won't leak out)

 

[Bill_Bright]

I wonder if this might be a good thing for computer fans

I say, only if ALL the original lubricant is totally cleaned out from the bearings and bearing chamber first. This to avoid mixing and contaminating the old or new lubricant.

I go back to my earlier comment that we MUST know the chemical makeup of the original lubricant or risk contamination and breakdown of that original lubricant - which would be bad. Since it unlikely we know that information, thorough cleanout is essential.

 

[Shrek]

I'm a lazy bum; open up the cap, add engine oil and hope for the best