Computer fan noise and maintenance

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  • Cableaddict
    New Member
    • Nov 2016
    • 8
    • USA

    #121
    Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

    Originally posted by tazwegion
    I'm curious has anyone tried a dry lubricant like graphite powder (or the superior) Molybdenum disulfide powder (Chemical symbol=MoS2) to lubricate these case fans?
    I've thought about it, but figure the powder might not stay for ong.

    I've used Tri-Flow a few times, and so far it seems to work great. It bonds to metal surfaces, so won't fly off like powder might, it's super-light, and it doesn't attract dust.

    The problem with a noisy fan is getting the dirt / dust OUT, first. I dunno what's best, though I've used WD40.
    Last edited by Cableaddict; 11-25-2016, 05:50 AM.

    Comment

    • stj
      Great Sage 齊天大聖
      • Dec 2009
      • 30951
      • Albion

      #122
      Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

      wash them in the sink.
      then re-lube them.

      Comment

      • 999999999
        Badcaps Veteran
        • Sep 2006
        • 774
        • USA

        #123
        Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

        Graphite is cheap, if it worked then that's what fan manufacturers would use from the factory.

        Practically all of the sleeve bearing type use a sintered bronze bearing which has pores in it. Due to this you want a thin oil base that is absorbed into the pores, and a longer chain grease suspended to make up for the excess play and keep the oil in place so more of it has a chance to soak in.

        No fancy lubricant additive is needed. It merely needs to keep the shaft from wobbling around, pumping out the lubricant once there is wear, and to absorb enough that it doesn't dry out soon which was the problem in the first place.

        Some bearing may be impregnated with a very small % of graphite, but in that case the pores remain, while if you start adding too many solids to the lubricant it can clump and clog them. The same is true of too much grease. That won't keep the fan from working fine but it will run out of available lubricant sooner. On the other hand if the fan has a well sealing rubber plug, you can put a lot more lube in with that to hold the reservoir and it may not completely run out for quite a long time regardless of the above.
        Last edited by 999999999; 11-25-2016, 08:47 PM.

        Comment

        • momaka
          master hoarder
          • May 2008
          • 12168
          • Bulgaria

          #124
          Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

          Originally posted by stj
          wash them in the sink.
          then re-lube them.
          Wouldn't that cause rust to build up on the stator over time, though?

          I've never had to wash any of my fans, even the really gross ones I found. Usually, I just take them apart and clean the rotor blades with a damp paper towel. For really dirty fans, I use alcohol afterwards.

          Comment

          • stj
            Great Sage 齊天大聖
            • Dec 2009
            • 30951
            • Albion

            #125
            Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

            Originally posted by momaka
            Wouldn't that cause rust to build up on the stator over time, though?
            no, because after you wash it you remove the clip and extract the blade assembly etc.
            then dry it out - i use a fan heater.

            you could strip it first, but i dont want to get all that dirt on me.

            Comment

            • momaka
              master hoarder
              • May 2008
              • 12168
              • Bulgaria

              #126
              Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

              Originally posted by stj
              then dry it out - i use a fan heater.
              Ah, I see.
              I personally hate "wasting" too much energy on these things, so I always let things dry in the sun instead. Last June, we had one day where it was so hot here that I had a motherboard dry in 20 minutes after washing. After 1 hour in the sun, I could barely hold it - it was over 50°C. I guess that is one good outcome of the dark-colored PCBs that are popular these days.

              Originally posted by stj
              you could strip it first, but i dont want to get all that dirt on me.
              Meh. By the time I get to the fans (be it in a PSU or not), my hand are already super dirty anyways.

              Comment

              • 999999999
                Badcaps Veteran
                • Sep 2006
                • 774
                • USA

                #127
                Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                I've washed fans before just to get gunk like tobacco tar off the blades and frame, and didn't disassemble them at all, just shook excess water out and set them over a HVAC register if I was in a hurry or just sitting on a shelf if I wasn't.

                The main thing was to just wait until I felt they were dry before applying power. Never had a problem doing that, though I didn't leave them soaking in water, just sprayed Mr. Clean on them and a toothbrush to loosen gunk, then a brief rinse under tap water. FYI Mr Clean is a lot better at getting old tobacco tar off than the typical off the shelf detergents, even if it's so bad that it looks like the prior system owner must have set their ash tray right in front of the system.
                Last edited by 999999999; 11-26-2016, 08:49 PM.

                Comment

                • jiroy
                  Badcaps Legend
                  • Jun 2016
                  • 2416
                  • Lebanon

                  #128
                  Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                  Originally posted by 999999999
                  I've washed fans before just to get gunk like tobacco tar off the blades and frame, and didn't disassemble them at all, just shook excess water out and set them over a HVAC register if I was in a hurry or just sitting on a shelf if I wasn't.

                  The main thing was to just wait until I felt they were dry before applying power. Never had a problem doing that, though I didn't leave them soaking in water, just sprayed Mr. Clean on them and a toothbrush to loosen gunk, then a brief rinse under tap water. FYI Mr Clean is a lot better at getting old tobacco tar off than the typical off the shelf detergents, even if it's so bad that it looks like the prior system owner must have set their ash tray right in front of the system.
                  I think this method is the best and i usually do the same .. Disassembling a fan can kill it for good .

                  Comment

                  • momaka
                    master hoarder
                    • May 2008
                    • 12168
                    • Bulgaria

                    #129
                    Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                    Originally posted by jiroy
                    Disassembling a fan can kill it for good .
                    Only if one is careless.

                    I find that I often need to take sleeve bearing fans apart for oiling anyways. Most sleeve bearing fans are not properly oiled from the factory, especially the cheap ones. Adding a drop of oil on the back is not good enough.

                    For example, I just recently took apart an 80 mm fan from an Antec PSU with very little use. The fan seemed to have lots of grease/oil in the back, but it sounded a bit "dry" to me when I spun it. After taking it apart, I found that there was barely any oil towards the front of the sleeve bearing, and hence why the fan was noisy. I cleaned the shaft and bearing from the old oil/grease mix and put fresh oil in there. The fan in that Antec PSU sounds even more quiet now.

                    So in many occasions (but especially with sleeve bearing fans), it is better to take apart the fan fully, clean it, and then oil it. Also, some fans you just have to take apart because it's not easy to find replacements (or it is, but it takes a while for them to get shipped). So I take apart fans all the time. Never damaged one.

                    Comment

                    • Topcat
                      The Boss Stooge
                      • Oct 2003
                      • 16955
                      • United States

                      #130
                      Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                      I dont oil fans, I grease them. Hotwash in a sink after disassembling, blast dry with air compressor. Some ball bearings may not get clean with just soap if the original grease has hardened and gotten crusty, these need to be removed from the sleeve and soaked in Brakeleen. Don't get brakeleen on the plastic, it will melt it. Then pack the bearings (or bushing sleeves) with ZEP2000 spray grease. A can of this isn't cheap, but its awesome! Well worth the price.

                      The key for a long quiet life after repacking them is replacing the dust seal sticker...most the time once you peel it off, it won't stick again. go get some Gorilla tape (a very potent duct tape), cut it in a circle the size of the old sticker. Then clean the sticking surface on the back of the fan with alcohol on a rag, and put the tape on. it won't come off. I've got some fans 10+ years old running quiet 24/7/365 after doing this.
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                      • mockingbird
                        Badcaps Legend
                        • Dec 2008
                        • 5484
                        • -

                        #131
                        Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                        Originally posted by Topcat
                        The key for a long quiet life after repacking them is replacing the dust seal sticker...most the time once you peel it off, it won't stick again. go get some Gorilla tape (a very potent duct tape), cut it in a circle the size of the old sticker. Then clean the sticking surface on the back of the fan with alcohol on a rag, and put the tape on. it won't come off. I've got some fans 10+ years old running quiet 24/7/365 after doing this.
                        ^this

                        And if you want to keep the original sticker, clean the remaining adhesive off with a solvent, and then use rubber cement to stick it back on over the rubber seal.

                        Comment

                        • jiroy
                          Badcaps Legend
                          • Jun 2016
                          • 2416
                          • Lebanon

                          #132
                          Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                          Originally posted by momaka
                          Only if one is careless.

                          I find that I often need to take sleeve bearing fans apart for oiling anyways. Most sleeve bearing fans are not properly oiled from the factory, especially the cheap ones. Adding a drop of oil on the back is not good enough.

                          For example, I just recently took apart an 80 mm fan from an Antec PSU with very little use. The fan seemed to have lots of grease/oil in the back, but it sounded a bit "dry" to me when I spun it. After taking it apart, I found that there was barely any oil towards the front of the sleeve bearing, and hence why the fan was noisy. I cleaned the shaft and bearing from the old oil/grease mix and put fresh oil in there. The fan in that Antec PSU sounds even more quiet now.

                          So in many occasions (but especially with sleeve bearing fans), it is better to take apart the fan fully, clean it, and then oil it. Also, some fans you just have to take apart because it's not easy to find replacements (or it is, but it takes a while for them to get shipped). So I take apart fans all the time. Never damaged one.
                          Yes Momaka , disassembling a fan can kill it only if one is careless , that's what i intended to say . I always speak from my experiences , and in this case , i was thinking of a scrooge client who , insisted on cleaning a fan himself in a Hp Icore 7 . I told him i can sell you a new fan or i recommend me cleaning it . He didn't listen , and the lap is right here with a burnt motherboard .

                          Comment

                          • Drack
                            Yup it's me
                            • Nov 2016
                            • 297
                            • Venezuela

                            #133
                            Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                            I use hydraulic oil, 2 drops when the fan is not making weird sound and they just last a lot, even cheap sleeve bearing fans, I do that once a year and check if the fans have enough oil when I bought them, grease don't work that well for me at least, the fans don't die but sounds like a Chinese car (Cherry qq lol)
                            Last edited by Drack; 01-26-2017, 07:22 PM.

                            Comment

                            • 999999999
                              Badcaps Veteran
                              • Sep 2006
                              • 774
                              • USA

                              #134
                              Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                              Unfortunately I'm finding more and more cheap fans that are permanently sealed, no lube bung and have some kind of press-fit assembly. Some are even semi-popular brands like Coolermaster and otherwise appear to be fair quality for their low price.

                              Some day if I get bored enough I might try drilling a little hole to lube one, but I have plenty of other fans so am in no rush to bother.

                              Comment

                              • Drack
                                Yup it's me
                                • Nov 2016
                                • 297
                                • Venezuela

                                #135
                                Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                                Originally posted by 999999999
                                Unfortunately I'm finding more and more cheap fans that are permanently sealed, no lube bung and have some kind of press-fit assembly. Some are even semi-popular brands like Coolermaster and otherwise appear to be fair quality for their low price.

                                Some day if I get bored enough I might try drilling a little hole to lube one, but I have plenty of other fans so am in no rush to bother.
                                Already did it, worked ok, for an Intel fan, it lost one pressure metal bung or something like that but it has been working for a year since then

                                Comment

                                • BadCon
                                  Member
                                  • Jan 2017
                                  • 16
                                  • Croatia

                                  #136
                                  Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                                  Originally posted by 999999999
                                  Unfortunately I'm finding more and more cheap fans that are permanently sealed, no lube bung and have some kind of press-fit assembly.
                                  I found Arctic fans (their patented FDB bearings) is what I think sealed. I dissasemble them using force to remove blades from frame, clean it and put a drop or two of oil on fan shaft. Push it back altogether and works fine. Is that a proper way to relubricate them or that kind of fans should not be dissasembled (as I read that FDB should not be changed?).


                                  Originally posted by davmax
                                  How can PC fans be maintained? (bearings, lubrication, cleaning off dust & particulates)...
                                  For lubrication I use a synthetic oil 10-50 grade, it is thin and will not gum up or evaporate.
                                  Recently a 135mm fan (I suppose ball bearing, because PSU is good quality FSP made) in my PSU start to make annoying noises, so I cleaned it and lube with a 2t motor oil as I was unable to find 4t engine oil I used to lube before. Fan is silent and no annoing noise anymore.

                                  Now I'm asking is two stroke motor oil good to lube ball bearing fans? What about sleeve bearing ones? If its bad to use and I'll have problems afterwards, I'll clean the fan and lube with another type of oil.

                                  Comment

                                  • momaka
                                    master hoarder
                                    • May 2008
                                    • 12168
                                    • Bulgaria

                                    #137
                                    Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                                    Originally posted by 999999999
                                    Unfortunately I'm finding more and more cheap fans that are permanently sealed, no lube bung and have some kind of press-fit assembly. Some are even semi-popular brands like Coolermaster and otherwise appear to be fair quality for their low price.

                                    Some day if I get bored enough I might try drilling a little hole to lube one, but I have plenty of other fans so am in no rush to bother.
                                    I have a few of those well - already drilled out too. Not that hard to do, but annoying indeed compared to "normal" fans with rubber plugs.

                                    Originally posted by BadCon
                                    I found Arctic fans (their patented FDB bearings) is what I think sealed. I dissasemble them using force to remove blades from frame, clean it and put a drop or two of oil on fan shaft. Push it back altogether and works fine. Is that a proper way to relubricate them or that kind of fans should not be dissasembled (as I read that FDB should not be changed?).
                                    Well, if this method works and the fan lives long enough, then I guess it could be considered "proper" .

                                    Originally posted by Drack
                                    ... the fans don't die but sounds like a Chinese car (Cherry qq lol)
                                    Oh no, you have those where you live?!? Last time I saw crash test videos of those, they didn't fare well at all - about as bad as a Trabant and Pinto, if not worse.

                                    Comment

                                    • RukyCon
                                      A Fake Rubycon
                                      • Jan 2017
                                      • 816
                                      • USA

                                      #138
                                      Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                                      i have 2 cheep PC fans i use while i'm soldering one is a blue LED fan the other is a standard PC fan both of them are 120mm x 25mm
                                      but the blue one has started to make a clicking sound
                                      and i know it's because it's a cheap fan from Ebay

                                      and the reason i chose Ebay is because i was on a tight budget at the time and they were less then $3ea but now i can get better ones if i wanted to but i not going to yet because the old ones still work
                                      I'm not a expert, I'm just doing my best.

                                      Comment

                                      • Drack
                                        Yup it's me
                                        • Nov 2016
                                        • 297
                                        • Venezuela

                                        #139
                                        Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                                        Momaka, they are everywhere over here, but we do not own one of those, I imagine they are like that, they are as light as a gutless wonder

                                        Comment

                                        • BadCon
                                          Member
                                          • Jan 2017
                                          • 16
                                          • Croatia

                                          #140
                                          Re: Computer fan noise and maintenance

                                          Originally posted by BadCon
                                          ...
                                          Now I'm asking is two stroke motor oil good to lube ball bearing fans? What about sleeve bearing ones?..
                                          I'm sorry for 'bumping' my own post but I'm a little worried about this one (that 2t oil will gum up unlike 4t oil?), I dont want to damage 135mm fan which is hard to find/replace replace (there is not a single one 135mm in local stores). Thanks.

                                          Comment

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