PC fan oil - bit-tech.net Forums

gingbeard · 8th Nov 2009, 20:53

Ok, so here is a good question - What is the best oil to use to libe up those dusty PC fans? Hair clipper oil?

bigsharn · 8th Nov 2009, 21:50

I'd just replace them... or use a vacuum cleaner

Some oils will eat through the plastic as well, so I wouldn't try any out at all

kenco_uk · 8th Nov 2009, 22:27

I was told sewing machine oil worked well.

stonedsurd · 9th Nov 2009, 00:05

Yup sewing machine oil is fine.

kimandsally · 9th Nov 2009, 00:42

You have to strip the fan right down and take the fan impeller out of the frame then clean the shaft properly, it takes like 30 seconds you need a sharpe instrumant to peel out the plastic clip that holds it togther.
Then a small amount of any thin oil like 3 in 1 will do great, I take mine to pieces about every year and clean and oil them, my 120mm fans are 4 years old and still OK, I think they run nicer after the first strip down and oiling maybe they are run in?

Krikkit · 9th Nov 2009, 00:57

Gun oil would work nicely as well if you have any.

Elton · 9th Nov 2009, 04:31

WD4D?

Sewing Machine oil or Gun Oil works pretty well too.

gingbeard · 9th Nov 2009, 07:43

Gun oil you day?Yes - got that! Lots of online threads say that WD-40 is the worst thing you can do - not good for the fan at all. Could this be true?

kimandsally · 9th Nov 2009, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingbeard

Gun oil you day?Yes - got that! Lots of online threads say that WD-40 is the worst thing you can do - not good for the fan at all. Could this be true?

I would be bad if you just sprayed the fan with it hoping it will get in, if you strip the fan down as I have said to do then it will be fine just on the bearing surfaces.
If it gets on the plastic it will probably rot it eventually.

Krikkit · 9th Nov 2009, 15:03

WD-40 isn't very good for this kind of thing, it tends to destroy any grease that's left. I suppose ideally you would just use axle grease.

Daedelus · 9th Nov 2009, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elton

WD4D?

WD40 is not a lubricant, it's a water displacer (hence the name)

tk421 · 9th Nov 2009, 18:48

try a silicone-based paintball marker lube. the cheap stuff.

won't eat plastic, etch anodized aluminum, or anything like that.

also, dry graphite might work in a pinch, but wont last that long ...

Cleggmeister · 9th Nov 2009, 19:49

This could be a good thread, I'd like to know how to "improve" my fans to lower noise etc...

Please could someone post an idiot's guid to stripping, cleaning, lubing and rebuilding a fan?

Many thanks,

Cleggy.

capnPedro · 9th Nov 2009, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk421

try a silicone-based paintball marker lube. the cheap stuff.

DOW-33

Krikkit · 9th Nov 2009, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleggmeister

Please could someone post an idiot's guid to stripping, cleaning, lubing and rebuilding a fan?

I may write one this week, but for now have a look here for a guide which includes stripping a fan. For lubing just oil the shaft (*snicker*).

Elton · 10th Nov 2009, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daedelus

WD40 is not a lubricant, it's a water displacer (hence the name)

My bad.

For some odd reason I was looking at a container of gun oil, and even worse thought it was WD4D..

Need to label my stuff..

tk421 · 10th Nov 2009, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnPedro

DOW-33

no, no DOW 33 or 55, or hater sauce, or any expensive lube. a $3 bottle of spyder or tippman oil ... or gold cup gun oil if you already have it.

i'm sure the DOW would work, but it would involve tearing down, greasing, and rebuilding. the oils, 1 drop, good to go

capnPedro · 10th Nov 2009, 21:06

My bad. 1/4 oz of DOW-33 is like $2 and is made of silicone so I thought that was what you were talking about.

8th Nov 2009, 20:53	#1
gingbeard What's a Dremel? Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 17	PC fan oil Ok, so here is a good question - What is the best oil to use to libe up those dusty PC fans? Hair clipper oil?

8th Nov 2009, 22:27	#3
kenco_uk glourious bacon? Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bourne, Lincolnshire, UK Posts: 6,291	I was told sewing machine oil worked well. __________________ MSI X58M - i7 920 4Ghz - 6GB Corsair - GTX260 648/2520 ::: Vote for bit-tech T - theevilelephant - "it sounded like bouncing around on a pogo stick, screaming in chinese while occasionally throwing a cat at a door."

9th Nov 2009, 00:05	#4
stonedsurd I'm not Sparta :/ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA, USA/Delhi, India Posts: 1,763	Yup sewing machine oil is fine. __________________ Project PC3 - a PC in a PS3! (While the old one is mothballed) We're people who have the patience and know the pain of sleeving. And love it Bit Tech is more than games and hardware - check out the mods too. Don't let modding die in Bit-Tech.net.

9th Nov 2009, 00:57	#6
Krikkit Don't panic! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lancs, UK Posts: 15,140	Gun oil would work nicely as well if you have any. __________________ \|E8400 @ 4.4GHz\|WC: 2*120.1 GT's, MCP350, Storm G5\|4GB Dominators\|DFI LT X48-T2R\|8800GT\|74GB Raptor\|Chieftec BA01\|OCZ ModXStream 600W\|Dell 2208WFP\| The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, The LOL!!1!!1!, The Zlad!, The Kempness, The Braaaaaains...

9th Nov 2009, 04:31	#7
Elton A Monitor Afficionado.. Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: California Posts: 1,983	WD4D? Sewing Machine oil or Gun Oil works pretty well too. __________________ EP45-UD3P\|HIS HD4850 ICE-Q 4 Turbo @ 690/1090\|4GB G.Skill DDR2-800 @ 844mhz\|HAF932\|Antec True Power Trio 550w\|E8400@3.8Ghz FSB:421 Volt: Stock\|Vortex 752(Heatsink)\|Mitsubishi/NEC LCD1860NX Other Build: ECS RS400-A\|Prescott P4 @ 3.45Ghz\|2GB DDR2 533\|OEM ATi X1600XT\|Dynex 430w\|Some Random Case\|Mitsubishi 20" Diamondtron Pro

9th Nov 2009, 00:42	#5
kimandsally Minimodder Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: UK Posts: 46	You have to strip the fan right down and take the fan impeller out of the frame then clean the shaft properly, it takes like 30 seconds you need a sharpe instrumant to peel out the plastic clip that holds it togther. Then a small amount of any thin oil like 3 in 1 will do great, I take mine to pieces about every year and clean and oil them, my 120mm fans are 4 years old and still OK, I think they run nicer after the first strip down and oiling maybe they are run in?

9th Nov 2009, 07:43	#8
gingbeard What's a Dremel? Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 17	Gun oil you day?Yes - got that! Lots of online threads say that WD-40 is the worst thing you can do - not good for the fan at all. Could this be true?

9th Nov 2009, 15:03	#10
Krikkit Don't panic! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lancs, UK Posts: 15,140	WD-40 isn't very good for this kind of thing, it tends to destroy any grease that's left. I suppose ideally you would just use axle grease. __________________ \|E8400 @ 4.4GHz\|WC: 2*120.1 GT's, MCP350, Storm G5\|4GB Dominators\|DFI LT X48-T2R\|8800GT\|74GB Raptor\|Chieftec BA01\|OCZ ModXStream 600W\|Dell 2208WFP\| The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, The LOL!!1!!1!, The Zlad!, The Kempness, The Braaaaaains...

9th Nov 2009, 18:48	#12
tk421 Idiot. Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: ohio Posts: 2,288	try a silicone-based paintball marker lube. the cheap stuff. won't eat plastic, etch anodized aluminum, or anything like that. also, dry graphite might work in a pinch, but wont last that long ... __________________ :gamebox: e7400@3.5 (333x10.5)\|MSI Neo3f(p43)\|2x2gb pc6400\|HD4850 (512)\|1.6tb across 4 hdd\|CM590\|westie lcm-22w3\|

9th Nov 2009, 19:49	#13
Cleggmeister Likes MS, dislikes Apple Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: A Manc in Glasgow, usually on the M6... Posts: 39	This could be a good thread, I'd like to know how to "improve" my fans to lower noise etc... Please could someone post an idiot's guid to stripping, cleaning, lubing and rebuilding a fan? Many thanks, Cleggy. __________________ Asus P6T SE, Intel i7 920 D0, 3Gb Corsair Dominator, Inno 8800GT, Samsung F1/F3 drives, Win 7 Home Premium, beQuiet Darkpower 650w, Akasa Nero CPU cooler, Xilence RedWing intake fan, Antec 300 case. Shopping list: SSD, ATI 5850, premium soundcard...

10th Nov 2009, 21:06	#18
capnPedro Deaf forever to the battle's din Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North-East England Posts: 2,972	My bad. 1/4 oz of DOW-33 is like $2 and is made of silicone so I thought that was what you were talking about. __________________ ASUS M4A785TD-M Evo \| AMD Phenom II x4 955 BE \| D-Tek FuZion 4GB Corsair XMMS3-10666 \| Corsair TX650 Point Of View 8800GTX \| EK FC-8800