Best lubrication for fan

[4ektonik]

Hi.I have a question about lubricate for pc fan.i'm going to grease the fun and i think that grease to choose.IMHO i think to buy grease silicone in air spray/or oil silicone what will be better?
I read many articles and i vote for that option.
Help me what choose silicone oil or grease air spray/in plastic box
Or maybe you have any other suggestion.I need you help.But pls advise me safe and best option in professional approach.

 

[MrGenius]

Electric motor oil. Or sewing machine oil. Or any light machine oil. Or whatever...doesn't really matter that much...as long as it's oil...and NOT grease.

 

[eidairaman1]

Electric motor oil. Or sewing machine oil. Or any light machine oil. Or whatever...doesn't really matter that much...as long as it's oil...and NOT grease.

+1

 

[lexluthermiester]

Hi.I have a question about lubricate for pc fan.i'm going to grease the fun and i think that grease to choose.IMHO i think to buy grease silicone in air spray/or oil silicone what will be better?
I read many articles and i vote for that option.
Help me what choose silicone oil or grease air spray/in plastic box
Or maybe you have any other suggestion.I need you help.But pls advise me safe and best option in professional approach.

I use dielectric grease whenever I service and re-lube fans.
https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-22058-Dielectric-Tune-Up-Grease/dp/B000AL8VD2

 

[AsRock]

As Mr Genius said sewing machine oil. silicone ( Super Lube ) types can work to, i put some on some very old Rosewill fans about 7 years ago and still running like new.

If you use sewing machine oil or alike make sure you do not over do it and run the fan out of system before putting to use.

 

[4ektonik]

I think i would try silicone oil.

Thanks everyone.

 

[silentbogo]

At home I'm using a small tube of odorless lube that came with my hair trimmer )))
Always forget to bring some "good stuff" from my office.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Avoid products like WD40 and '2in1' oil. WD40 wont 'lube' anything but its great at getting water out of stuff like bike chains or unjamming some mechanical parts that have become rusted and stuck together..

2in1 will just turn into a sticky mess that will jam up your fans. silicone, lithium grease or sowing machine oil is always good.

 

[jboydgolfer]

best option in professional approach.

replace with a new fan.

 

[lagginswag]

been using 3-in-1 multi purpose as well as the blue bottle for years to extend a fans life, with no bad results other than an oily mess here and there. blue is better for high rpm fans like delta, like 5k rpm etc.

 

[Wavetrex]

Electric motor oil. Or sewing machine oil. Or any light machine oil. Or whatever...doesn't really matter that much...as long as it's oil...and NOT grease.

Tried and tested multiple times. I have fans over 10 years old still running fine and completely silent, lubricated with sewing machine oil which is very cheap. WAY cheaper than buying new fans.


Whoever said "Buy new fans", shame on you.

 

[Flyordie]

I've been using Lucas Oil Gun Oil. Works great for ball-bearing fans. Does dry out after about a year though of 100% on usage.

 

[newtekie1]

I use standard motor oil, 5w-30 because that is what my car takes. I just keep it in one of those little oiler type cans.

 

[Sybaris_Caesar]

Picked up a little vial of "bearing lubricant" from my local cycle store a few weeks ago for $1 or so converted. I think the guy put wd-40.

Previously used sewing machine oil too.

 

[Space Lynx]

Avoid products like WD40 and '2in1' oil. WD40 wont 'lube' anything but its great at getting water out of stuff like bike chains or unjamming some mechanical parts that have become rusted and stuck together..

2in1 will just turn into a sticky mess that will jam up your fans. silicone, lithium grease or sowing machine oil is always good.

I learned something today, cheers mate

 

[AsRock]

Picked up a little vial of "bearing lubricant" from my local cycle store a few weeks ago for $1 or so converted. I think the guy put wd-40.

Previously used sewing machine oil too.

You can use WD40 but it needs to be 100% removal after and a real replacement.

 

[Rockarola]

Tried and tested multiple times. I have fans over 10 years old still running fine and completely silent, lubricated with sewing machine oil which is very cheap. WAY cheaper than buying new fans.


Whoever said "Buy new fans", shame on you.

Sewing machine oil is formulated for high RPM bearings in a hot, dusty, dirty environment...that sounds like the average fan to me

 

[infrared]

I used to use a drop of 10W40 synthetic, just because i had some on hand lol. I haven't had any fans go bad lately but the Antec 120mm fans I re-lubed lasted for years, ended up getting thrown away with the case but they were still kinda okay, just not worth keeping.

 

[Komshija]

I use bike chain oil with PTFE (teflon). It's thicker than sewing machine oil.
Most oils will be OK, be that car engine oil, chainsaw chain oil, oil for fine mechanical parts, sewing machine oil... WD-40 will be good only as a short term solution and I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[dorsetknob]

I Have used extra Virgin Olive Oil in the past applied via Hypodermic Syringe (its Electrically non Conductive) injected thru the covering Brand sticker/seal

 

[Vario]

Thin automotive oils will work. 0W20 synthetic.

 

[Wavetrex]

I Have used extra Virgin Olive Oil in the past

That is risky because even very good olive oil rots.
All organic oils rot eventually.

Only mineral/synthetic oil should be used (preferably designed specifically for small machinery, like the readily available sewing machine oil)

Motor oil is designed to be the most fluid at temperatures around 90-95 degrees Celsius, meaning for room-temp equipment it's not very good. I also recommend against it.

 

[Susquehannock]

If you are using sprays heavy in solvents remain mindful they could be detrimental to certain plastics. WD40 is a good example. Mostly kerosene. And not made to be a lubricant in the first place. It's a water displacement product.

My preference is a tiny drop or two of heavy duty silicone from the spray can. Have checked the MSDS and confirmed it has no ingredients harmful to plastics. But only on fans that can benefit. Which brings up the next subject. Many ball bearings used in these fans are sealed units and cannot be easily lubed without disassembly.

Motor oil is designed to be the most fluid at temperatures around 90-95 degrees Celsius, meaning for room-temp equipment it's not very good. I also recommend against it.

Indeed. Multi-viscosity motor oils (probably 90% of the market these days) are designed to be thickest at higher temps. Thanks to those wonderful thermally sensitive expanding coil shaped polymer molecules. Number before the 'W' represents thickness at 32-f. After the 'W' represents thickness at 212-f.

 

[4ektonik]

If you are using sprays heavy in solvents remain mindful they could be detrimental to certain plastics. WD40 is a good example. Mostly kerosene. And not made to be a lubricant in the first place. It's a water displacement product.

My preference is a tiny drop or two of heavy duty silicone from the spray can. Have checked the MSDS and confirmed it has no ingredients harmful to plastics. But only on fans that can benefit. Which brings up the next subject. Many ball bearings used in these fans are sealed units and cannot be easily lubed without disassembly.

Indeed. Multi-viscosity motor oils (probably 90% of the market these days) are designed to be thickest at higher temps. Thanks to those wonderful thermally sensitive expanding coil shaped polymer molecules. Number before the 'W' represents thickness at 32-f. After the 'W' represents thickness at 212-f.

but oil silicone will be as fine as silicone air-spray?

 

[Susquehannock]

but oil silicone will be as fine as silicone air-spray?

Very glad you asked. One should always read the labels and instructions to be sure their particular product is plastic safe. Some are. Some are not.