noisy fan, is WD40 ok?

[CountZero]

When I started up my computer this morning it was making a horrible noise, after figuring out it was the Thermaltake 120 mm fan making the noise i took it out of the system. It would make noise even if turned by hand, sounded like something wasn't gliding along inside like it should. So I peeled back the sticker and hit it with a little WD40 and now its quiet when turned by hand but now i'm wondering if it will be ok or not once back in the case, anyone have experience with this?

 

[Subhuman25]

Umm WD-40 isn't a good choice for lubing.It can break down the plastics because it contains a solvent.
Sewing machine oil is the proper choice.

 

[Blain]

Use 3-In-One oil, then reseal the bearing with "foil" duct tape (after cleaning all the oil residue off the surface).

 

[Zepper]

Just replace the fan - the bearings are not intended to be serviced. But perhaps it will hold out long enough for you to have a replacment shipped in. And as the others mentons WD-40 isn't intended to be used around plastics.
.bh.

 

[Subhuman25]

Use 3-In-One oil, then reseal the bearing with "foil" duct tape (after cleaning all the oil residue off the surface).

Wrong! Do not use anything but mineral base oil around plastic parts.Any oil claiming "cleans" has some type of petroleum solvent in it.That 3 in 1 oil is a 3 in 1 oil as the name implies and is also marketed by WD-40,just the same under a different name.
Plastics and rubbers are mostly made of pretroleum and the use of solvents will break it down eventually.

Do what Zepper said and replace the fan.They're cheap.Rather than risking your expensive components it's meant to cool down.

 

[Zap]

Don't sweat it. Start shopping for a fan and replace it the next time it makes noise. If the chemicals are going to melt the plastic you would have noticed pretty much right away. Anyone use solvents/gasoline to "melt" plastic model parts together.

Back in the day I used to make my dot matrix printer ribbons last longer by spraying them with WD40 to "refresh" the ink. The ribbon cartridges were plastic and I've never had any break down. Some ribbon cartridges were "refreshed" a number of times and used for over a year without problems.

The only problem I can think about regarding WD40 is that it may be too thin to last for moving parts.

 

[LifeStealer]

WD-40 is not a lubricant, it should be used for CLEANING only.

Use some white lithium grease but remember a little goes a long way.

 

[subman]

Read this page for some info ...

http://www.dansdata.com/fanmaint.htm

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: subman
Read this page for some info ...

http://www.dansdata.com/fanmaint.htm

Sure, he used 3-In-One oil...
But lets go back and check that fan out in 10 years... he won't be so happy then, now will he?
Sperm oil is the sh!t!

 

[lobadobadingdong]

lol, some people are just goofy, they use clear lithium grease in the factory. over time it breaks down into a liquid under long term movement, I just use machine oil (sewing machine oil is the same thing, just costs more) to get them quieted down, and for them to last long enough to replace the fan. WD-40 does just as good for a temperary fix, as long as you don't intend to keep using it indefinatly that way.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Blain
Sure, he used 3-In-One oil...
But lets go back and check that fan out in 10 years... he won't be so happy then, now will he?

Who the heck keeps a computer fan for 10 years?

 

[Subhuman25]

Hey,use all the WD-40 you want.Be my guest
Some people need to learn the hard way and some people never learn

 

[mechBgon]

A drop of automatic-transmission fluid is a good lubricant for sleeve-type bearings.

 

[zemel]

The case cooling guide over at tweakers.com says to use clipper/shaver oil.

grease up, ya'll

 

[Subhuman25]

Originally posted by: zemel
The case cooling guide over at tweakers.com says to use clipper/shaver oil.

grease up, ya'll

Hush,don't tell that to the WD-40 boys

 

[LifeStealer]

Take it apart and clean it with WD-40. Then lube.