[Found the right stuff] Axle Grease for fan in HP Pavilion Laptop - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 12:34:26 am
content: I need a cheap axle Grease for fan in my HP Pavilion Laptop as it's bearing is now vibrating when it spins.My original fix 2 years ago, just taking out the fan and adding a drop of Olive Oil has lasted until now. I would like to get another year or two out of it.Here in North America, what is a good cheap grease for this tiny fan which will stay in the bearing?In the past, I used to have a type of blue grease which was used in the gears of VCR tape mechanism which just never dried up, but wasn't super thick, of fluid like an oil. I'm basically looking for the same thing at a Home Depot type of store.Any product suggestions, something cheap like a few bucks...

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:21:41 am
content: You might tryLabelle #106 grease.A good lite weight grease to have around.Although, a new fan might be cheaper.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:52:36 am
content: Quote from: MarkF on April 09, 2024, 01:21:41 amThe laptop fan was specifically engineered into the laptop's heatsink. And that microscopic connector...Still, after a google search, the one which appears to look like the one in my laptop is 30$ unless I go to an Aliexpress clone and have to go bonkers waiting over a month and pay 15$.

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 02:18:53 am
content: You're probably after "semi fluid" grease, you can often find #00 sold at farm supply stores. Most chassis/wheel bearing grease in the auto aisle is #2, roughly peanut butter consistency.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NLGI_consistency_number

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 03:33:03 am
content: I used a tiny drop of Hoppe's #9 gun oil for the squealing fan in my MSI laptop. Grease may be too viscous. Sewing machine or clock oil are possibilities.If you really want grease, try Superlube; it is a relatively thin grease with superior lubricating properties.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 04:05:46 am
content: maybe long silicone oils? you can get them in various viscosities

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 04:32:44 am
content: Vaseline works great. Just a little layer, too much will brake the rotor down.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 04:34:47 am
content: Anything with a NLGI number of 0 should do. An NLGI number of 000, IE cooking oil would be what I already used.A NLGI number of 1 will be a little too thick, but would probably still work as the axle is as thin as a sewing needle. The rotation torque down at that diameter is fairly large.And the fan doesn't squeak, it rumbles or hums. Basically like a continuous phone vibrator.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 04:49:09 am
content: but honestly does anyone here expect results for a fan? I only ever grease intermittent motors. Something continuous IMO needs replacements because its just not gonna last at all. Power tool or manual OK, I can maybe live with that. But imo its guaranteed that this wont work for more then a few months. A fan on a welder that kicks on once in a while, OK.But for a continuous computer fan I have a feeling you will be disappointed.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 05:25:39 am
content: I haven't tried it on a computer fan but can certainly attest to the use of paraffin on noisy pedestal fans. I had one squealing like a stuck pig a few years ago so I filled a syringe with white paraffin and injected it into the brass sleeve bushings and the fan is still silent to this day.I have paraffin in half kilo buckets and use it on just about everything but you need to be careful as the stuff travels terribly. This aspect can be handy at times as it means not having to do a full dismantle on equipment to address a minor squeak in a difficult to access spot.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 06:03:17 am
content: maybe thats a oil bronze bushing that soaks it up and lasts. but a hardened ground one is just worn

author: Zenith
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 06:13:29 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on April 09, 2024, 04:49:09 amYes. I've done it before and the fan has gone on for ages. I used sewing machine oil. I would have thought grease was too stiff. There are loads of YT videos on cleaning and re-lubricating box fans.The only reason I'd do it these days is if the fan was hard to find, or for some reason I didn't want to fork out for a new fan.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 07:26:49 am
content: I had it last about 3 weeks on a computer fan.I think room fans last alot longer, maybe big ones. I tried it also on a small one (8 inch black plastic) and it also lasted maybe 1 month before it started making obnoxious noises again

author: Zenith
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 08:01:33 am
content: One of those things where YMMV.Modern computer case fans seem to last for years and there are good ones at reasonable prices, so if I had one acting up, I'd buy a new one. I'd be more inclined to try lubricating the bearing in a fan in a piece of TE, where a replacement could be hard to find or expensive.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 08:14:27 am
content: I found this mid range grease:https://www.lucasoil.ca/pdf/TDS_White-Lithium-Grease.pdfIt's viscosity is 227 at 40deg. I believe it is similar to the last stuff I used which lasted a few years.The anti-seize lubs have a viscosity of 100,000 to 200,000, they are like vaseline. Definitely too thick for the fan.Unfortunately, The lucasoil will also take a few days to get.There is also a lithium grease 'Permatex 80345 White Lithium Grease' with a 22 cst viscosity, however, I'm afraid this is similar to a thick motor oil, am I right?Opening the laptop is a hassle and I only want to do it 2 more times as I will probably also order a replacement fan which will take ~6 weeks to arrive.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 08:42:32 am
content: The lucasoil will be here tomorrow if you believe Amazon.I'll let you guys know how it works...

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 10:00:28 am
content: Lubriplate 105 (NLGI 0) is widely available and used in NA. It's calcium based. I use it as my less viscous lubricant on fine parts and assembly. I am unfamiliar with Lucasol grease, but the brand is certainly familiar for other automotive products.* Lucas Oil Stadium is where the Colts play football. Aside from viscosity, there is probably not much difference in functionality.*My goto NGLI 2 grease around implements, automotive, and machinery is Lucas Red "N" Tacky grease (NLGI 2). For very fine work, I use synthetic watch oil, but that is probably not what you need.

author: Koray
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 11:42:48 am
content: Wrong viscosity grease can hold the fan from spinning freely and may cause an SMD fuse to blow. Exactly my experience.K.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 11:43:45 am
content: Chainsaw grease might be something similar to what you need.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 12:23:42 pm
content: Any mineral oil based lubricant will do the job, but grease would be the wrong lubricant for that application. You want the oil to enter the space between the sleeve bearing and the fan's shaft. Grease would just sit outside. Stay away from using vegetable oil! It works only for a short period, then makes things even worse, and you have to completely clean it off before applying a proper lubricant.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:03:38 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on April 09, 2024, 11:43:45 amI agree. Chainsaw "bar and chain oil" in NA has no solids like lithium or calcium soaps. An almost equivalent oil is "way lube" for machinery. That is much harder to find in small amounts, and a machinist friend suggested just using bar and chain oil. That's what he uses.

author: tunk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:16:26 pm
content: Ball or sleeve bearing?Some time ago I put some (I think) hydraulic oil ina laptop fan (don't remember which bearing type).It now has a problem starting, so grease or heavyoil may not be the best.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:25:17 pm
content: Quote from: tunk on April 09, 2024, 01:16:26 pmOp wants to put a heavy lubricant into bearing that is so worn out it rattles, to quieten it up a bit, and buy some more time.It is custom fan not easy to replace because of availability.It is not about proper lubrication of good bearings.

author: CaptDon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:34:29 pm
content: Axle Grease is totally wrong for this. You probably can't even get it to go where you need it since it doesn't 'flow'. Were you thinking of rear end differential lube like 80W90? That may work. If I had to go through all the trouble of disassembly to get to a fan that sounds like the sleeve bearing has excess clearance and the buzz is from running off center and out of balance I'd just replace the fan. Probably find one from a used laptop on Ebay and possibly by the whole entire laptop for the price of a new fan. Old laptops only bring $30 or so, even less with a broken screen or sold with no hard drive / battery / CD drive etc. Most laptops are a P.I.T.A. to get to the innards! Fix it correctly once!

author: Zenith
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:36:52 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on April 09, 2024, 01:03:38 pmChain oil is sticky so it's not thrown off the chain so easily. I've always thought of it as a specialised product for chainsaws. There are other special products such as two stroke oils, gun oils and cutting oils, which might do at a pinch to lubricate squeaky hinges say, but I'd be inclined to use them only for their stated purposes.I've used a light machine oil for fans and as far as I'm aware, they don't have soaps, and are expected to lubricate mechanisms for long periods.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:53:28 pm
content: It has been mentioned that mineral oil and vegetable or similar (glycol) oils may not mix. It's possible not enough olive oil remains to make a difference, but miscibility can be easily tested. Hydraulic fluid has been mentioned. That comes in both versions. DOT 3, 4, and 5 are glycol based.

author: PwrElectronics
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 03:04:11 pm
content: Nobody has yet mentioned "zoom spout" turbine oil. Made for motor bushings and so on. I have had mixed luck with it on worn out stuff though.This thread is a little amusing to me. Years ago the fan on my old tower PC's graphics card wore out the bearings and would vibrate and buzz. No replacement to be found. It was a custom molded thing that attached to the heatsink. Didn't want to spend $$ for a new graphics card. So, I took apart a laptop PC that was found in in the bin at work that had busted hinges and IT had removed the drive, etc. Got the fan out of it and used hot glue and some cardboard to make a duct and mount for it to fit on the graphics card heatsink in place of the bad fan. That used laptop fan ran for many years when that PC was my daily driver and it still going fine on the occasional use now.

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 03:11:31 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on April 09, 2024, 04:49:09 amCome to think of it I'm not sure I've ever successfully applied lubricant to a loud PC fan twice. The first time might get you months, perhaps 10s of months, but when it acts up again that's more or less the end of it. That said I don't think I've tried anything heavier than 15w40 engine oil.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 03:44:24 pm
content: Quote from: tunk on April 09, 2024, 01:16:26 pmBe careful with hydraulic oils. Some are toxic.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2024, 04:55:53 pm
content: Hi Everyone,After WD-40-ing the fan April 9'th, I can say it lasted until today.Also, it is not that the bearing is loose, it is the fan bearing is getting sticky.I'm still awaiting the Aliexpress replacement fan, so I just applied the 'Lucas White Lithium Grease' I purchased.This stuff:Lucas White Lithium GreaseI can say the stuff's viscosity is perfect for small electronic plastic gears and bearings. It has the consistency similar to a thin mayonnaise. It will stay where you put it and it wont slow down fan bearings like a thick sticky 'Vaseline' type of grease.I'll report how long this stuff lasts in my fan...(Man, the fan is now so quiet. I don't mean slower as you can tell RPM by pitch, I mean just soooo quiet and smooth sounding. The previous WD-40 temporary fix had a cold metallic mechanical metal-on-metal sound to it.)

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2024, 03:19:44 pm
content: It's been 30 days with the Lucas White Lithium Grease, no problems, that's 3 times as long as the failing WD-40.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2024, 05:59:02 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on April 09, 2024, 01:53:28 pmI got 2 weeks from a bad mother board fan when I used whatever sandwich oil they had at the little sandwich place nearby. and IIRC then it jammed up, instead of just spinning loud. So it got quiet instead of screech after the oil and then 2 weeks later it was quiet because it halted. then I played games in tiny windowed mode on low res without the fan for another month before I got scared and replaced itit dries up gummy like a cast iron pan I think and really gunks it up.BTW WD40 is the oil you use for its original purpose, water displacement. after you wash something, rinse it in alcohol, drench it in WD40, let that drip off and expire, then add a viscous oil. I think the WD40 actually DOES get rid of some water in like a pliers hinge. It's like a rinseI thought that basically they used it for this: hosing down pressurized thin stainless steel tanks used for liquid oxygen for rockets. I imagine those tanks might get some dew on them in the morning, so you have someone spray it down with the oil on a humid day to get rid of the water droplets. Solvent evaporates too cold and makes more condensation, I have seen this on PCB. Thats why you bake PCB after flux remover with alcohol or whatever in a can. So it can't evaporate too fast, it can't absorb the pressurized thing that might make it evaporate and cool down, and it can't absorb water like solvents would (hydroscopic) and it must wick very well to get into small cracks and stuff where water can accumulate and start rust corrosion, and it needs to be cheap if its actually a water remover, which is why I think it was so hard to get WD40 working right if the story is true at all. And it has to evaporate quick enough to allow you to add a proper sealing oil to the surface.But even if you have a nicely sealed tank, if you see dew on it, the smart thing would be to rinse it off... they could not just assume that a egg shell LOX tank would be OK because it was greasy when it had condensation on it.... that is a flaming disaster waiting to happen... I assume they tended this thing like Emperor Vitellius' stomach LOL

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2024, 02:58:07 am
content: It's been over another 60 days, still working perfectly. We are past 3 months, and everything is AOK, even in summer heat.Again, lubricating oil doesn't work for these fan bearings. Using oil just begin to cease up and wine within a few days.The solid lithium grease I selected has been running fine for over 3 months straight.This stuff:Lucas White Lithium Grease

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2024, 03:04:49 am
content: I use that on my welding table casters lol, they are OK even after 5 years in the damp areaits cheap and the tube is big so I can kinda muscle some grease into things that are difficult to access without too much effort

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 04:43:01 pm
content: It's been another 90 days and the laptop fan still runs like new.That's half a year. I think we can call it fixed.

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 07:30:19 pm
content: It should be OK. I use general purpose lithium bearing grease in fans and they work 24/7 for a long time. One is maybe 10~15 year old and had a few grease replacements already, still spinning and still quiet.The only exception was one low profile, low RPM fan with a wimpy motor which was originally lubricated with some oil. Grease slowed it down to the point it couldn't start.

author: CapLeaker
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 11:05:12 am
content: I also use some heavier oil that is a bit thicker, but with PTFE. I also use(d) WD40 followed with Lithium Grease before for many years no problem.Things changed a bit when the laptops got really thin and lightweight. Their fans are really thin now. For these I just use some high quality thicker oil with PTFE and so far so good.

author: tigrr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2024, 02:20:08 pm
content: Quote from: BrianHG on July 27, 2024, 02:58:07 amIsn't greaseNLGL#2thick? Maybe greaseNLGL#1is preferable for low-power fan axles?