Fan Lubricant

[Callahan]

I came across this article dealing with lubricating larger fans .... over a small ThinkPad cooling fan. There is one product mentioned that comes in a small spray can with a straw. In the article it mentions this about the product: "made for fans that might be near difficult materials like rubber, vinyl, plastic, or metal." I guess it won't melt or react with those materials. The small pressurized spray can seems nice. Also, the 'Non-Stick Ceramic Technology' might be good for an older fan or a fan that has not gone bad yet ... maybe give it more years. I'm seeing a big increase in T42 used fan prices from 2016 when I bought a few spares on eBay.

Just interested in any opinions on using this product on a small type computer fan.

https://upgradedhome.com/best-lubricant ... an-motors/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3ZKVAS/?th=1

Dupont Teflon Silicone Oil

DuPont Silicone Surface Safe Lubricant with Non-Stick Ceramic Technology, reduces friction, prevents parts sticking, and stops squeaks. It is safe for use on all surfaces including non-metal materials that can become damaged by conventional lubricants.

Silicone's advanced formula is enhanced with Nano-Ceramic Boron Nitride particles to waterproof, protect, lubricate, and preserve rubber, plastic, vinyl, leather, metal, and wood surfaces.
With an operating temperature ranging from -40°F (-40°C) to 392°F (200°C), it's ideal for home, auto and marine applications. Silicone reduces the build-up of dirt, mud, snow, and ice, even in the most challenging conditions .
Non-staining, low-odor, and NSF H-2 approved as a food-grade product.

At this place they want $78.88 for a T42 fan ... it seems high to me but I suppose they could be getting scarce after I bought a few spares in 2016. Unless it's a new never used fan ... I just assumed it was previously used.

https://www.laptopinventory.com/Laptop_ ... es/T42/FAN
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[axur-delmeria]

I'd stick to the more common Singer sewing machine oil-- I've extended the life (by at least a year) of some Thinkpad fans with just that. I've also thought about using more expensive lubricants, but I'm a cheapskate.

You need less than a drop of oil to lubricate a laptop fan, so a spray can is definitely overkill.

Some guys in this forum have mentioned using automatic transmission fluid with good results. I can't vouch for that though.

[Callahan]

Thanks for the reply. Reading on the internet about fan lubrication ... Singer sewing machine oil is mentioned many times. I'm like you ... like to get things cheap or cheaper. Singer S M Oil is not that expensive so I will just pick up a bottle of that. I'm sure I can find it locally.

In the article Liberty Sewing Machine oil is mentioned but it seems to cost twice as much as Singer oil.
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[Callahan]

I thought I would post some further information since I last posted - July (2023). I had intended to buy some Singer Sewing Machine oil but spent a few more days researching and reading about oil. Most all convention oils are all just mineral oil with companies adding this or that to make their brand product ... so I read. Synthetic oils and semi-synthetic oils are another product also.

As axur-delmeria said in his above reply: "I've also thought about using more expensive lubricants, but I'm a cheapskate."

Well I decided myself to go the 'cheapskate' route. It occurred to me that I had a small bottle of Hoppe's #9 Lubricating Oil ... which I bought over ten years ago for some gun cleaning. It is still like the day I bought it and the plastic bottle has a long spout to reach into small areas. This information is on the back of the bottle: A Pure Lubricant / A light, pure, colorless oil that will not gum, harden or turn rancid. High viscosity. Gives lasting protection and lubrication. Cleans and protects woodwork. Keeps rust away.

Since it's a gun oil the last 'woodwork and rust' comment would be along that line. So I decided to go with the gun oil. I had tried another product first in June but as someone here or else ware mentioned that it would not last more than two weeks. That's what did happen ... the lubrication spray lasted only two weeks and the fan noise was back.

So I used the gun oil ... saturated the fan and let it sit for fours hours on a napkin, wiped off any excess and put the fan back into the T42. It's now going into March (8 months) and the fan is still running like a new fan at startup and hours long sessions. I only mention this if anyone is having a fan noise problem and you have some Hoppe's #9 oil and no sewing machine oil ... maybe give it a try.

I thought if I can get a year of the fan working good then I don't mind adding oil every year. Maybe it will work longer ... I hope so.
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[RealBlackStuff]

That lubrication spray was most likely the IMHO almost useless WD-40 penetrating lubricant.
It is a Water Displacement concoction with a minimal lubrication in it, that only works for a short period, stinks and leaves streaks.
A better WD-40 product, though still not perfect, is their WD-40 Specialist Silicone lubricant.

However, hard to beat is -and remains- that best fan lubricant: sewing machine oil.

[Callahan]

Hi ... yes they may have been talking about WD40, I just don't remember. However, it was not WD40 that I used. It was 'Houdini Lock - General Purpose Cleaner Lubricant'. Got it at Walmart after I read everything printed on the small can.

I think it's seems to be a better product than WD40 but as I mentioned earlier ... it only lasted two weeks with the T42 fan.

Here is all the information printed on the can:

4-Way Lock Lubricant / The amazing lubricant for all key, electric and combination locking devices.

Penetrates / Cleans / Lubricates / Protects / No Teflon / No Silicone / No Grease /
No Oil / No Graphite / No Gum-Up / Anti-Rust / No Corrosion

I think it's probably a good product for locks, frozen nuts and bolts and such but not a computer fan. Hard not to get too much spray to allow it to penetrate over a few hours. The oil seems the best way to go.

This is the exact item I got at Walmart:

https://www.amazon.com/Houdini-General- ... B08L42XNGZ

Just to be clear about Hoppe's No. 9 Lubricating Oil ... I bought it in an orange bottle over ten years ago with the long precision plastic spout. The orange bottles seem to no longer have the long precision spout. That is now on a small clear bottle and the spout is now metal.

Orange bottle:
https://www.amazon.com/HOPPES-No-Lubric ... B0849H54B7

High-viscosity oil refined to perfection
Ideal for firearms, fishing reels and other precision mechanisms
Extra-long lasting; Does not harden, gum or expire

Small clear bottle with metal spout:
https://www.amazon.com/HOPPES-No-9-Lubr ... B082DFQ3HF

As you said, sewing machine oil is the way to go but the Hoppe's #9 I already had and with the T42 so old already ... gave it a try.
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[MasterLink]

I use only Singer Sewing Machine oil. I never considered it to be expensive, and if it was, I'd see it as an investment to protect and maintain my other investments (the computers it would be used on for example, not just for fans).