40 mm fan has started being noisy at startup for a few minutes- fixable?

[Muse]

I put a 40 mm fan on my MSI KT3 Ultra2's northbridge heatsink a few months ago. Some versions of this MB have the fan, some don't, and I decided to put one on mine. I bought a 40 mm fan I saw at a computer show (the only one I saw), cost me one dollar. I wired it to run at 7v instead of 12v to keep the noise down, and because I don't think the northbridge needs much cooling. When I first start the computer it has started making a grindy whirring noise the last couple weeks. If I put my finger on the fan to stop it, the noise usually goes away, and it usually disappears after a few minutes. I tried switching it back to 12v, but then the noise is way worse! So, I put it back to 7v. Is there something I can maybe do to fix it? Maybe take it off and put in a drop of oil or spray something in there? What would do the job, not mess it up and last a while, assuming it can get in there where it counts? Anybody have experience with these things? Thanks!

 

[godmare]

Sounds like it may be just gunked with dust and such. try giving it a good clean and see if it helps.

 

[bgeh]

try peeling off the sticker at the back of your fan and put a drop of oil in the fan's bearings and then put back the sticker

 

[DaviDaVinci]

same thing with me fans too....i'm going oil 'em up now....thanks

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: bgeh
try peeling off the sticker at the back of your fan and put a drop of oil in the fan's bearings and then put back the sticker

OK. I've got some 3in1 oil, guess I'll use that. Also have light engine oil, bearing grease, spray lubricants including teflon. I wonder if a blast with compressed gas (Dust Off) would help. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[SaveYourself]

This generally occurs with sleeve-bearing fans. Ball-bearing fans are generally regarded to be the best for anything, but Sunon Vapo Bearing fans with Magnetic Levitation are also capable of really long life. Their only downside is that as of yet they are hard to find.

 

[Muse]

I should have posted back sooner, but it slipped my mind! Reason, is that after putting a drop of 3in1 oil in the fan's sleeve bearing, and reattaching the fan, it completely slipped my mind!! Yeah, it's been so quiet I forgot all about it. Did it about a week ago, and the noise is gone. It's a GlobalWin 40 mm. Thanks for the help, folks.