Problem with Cpu Fan

[Myself and I]

I have a slot a gold orb which is a great heatsink and cpu fan for my computer. The problem is when i start my computer i can a strange noise from the fan like it needs to be greesed or something to run smoothly.
Any suggestions ? I might go to radio shack and pick up some thermal greese or spray some WD-40 on it or is there something else i should be aware of
Thanks

[The Coolest]

Greasing the fan wouldn't hurt, I grease everyfan I get and already greased everyfan I got. I use the WD-40, great stuff.

[Random Nonsense]

WD40 will actually remove any lubricant in there, its NOT a lubricant itself, use some kind of grease (not thermal grease) or you could just use oil, but that would need re applying every month or so...

[mark]

wd40 is a degreaser, use 3 in 1 oil or use skate lube (for rollerblade bearings)

[Myself and I]

I think wd40 will help
thanks

[Random Nonsense]

Hey mark, out of interest who told u about WD40? most ppl assume its a lubricant, i've been learning about lubricants for my college course, im doing aero engineering

[Random Nonsense]

damn cant edit posts, was gonna add that best thing would be to clean out bearings with WD40, then use a grease or 3 in 1 oil, like mark said

[Myself and I]

where do you buy that stuff?
I mean its just a little fan

[Random Nonsense]

well i dont know where you would buy it in the USA, from what mark said i would assume skate lube would be from a skate shop, im sure they would know what it was if u asked, 3 in 1 oil, i think a cycle shop would have some, or a general hardware store etc.... wd40 also hardware store

[mark]

(for Random Nonsense)Hey mark, out of interest who told u about WD40?
my father told me about it back in the day when i was working on a bike, and shooting the wd 40 inside the front derailer bearings, and notices alot of stuff was comming out, and it got harder to spin. I had to let the stuff drain, and then load up on the 3 in 1, it was never the same.
gosh that musta been about 17 years ago, I'm 23 now.

we used to use wd40 to clean our hands off from working on cars, ie oil changes, brakes/bearings, basic stuff.

I dunno why i remember this stuff

[Random Nonsense]

gawd your ancient mark! (17 here, 18 in october) one other thing, i would have thought the ball bearings in computer fans would be fully shielded at least, if not sealed, therefore the lubrication in them shouldnt dry out.... the bearing itself could be knackered though....

[The Coolest]

I know that I used WD-40 on an oiled fan that was working fine, and it began to spin even better so I'll stick with 'unoiling' my fans LOL

[Myself and I]

I think i will just buy some wd40

[Random Nonsense]

if you just use WD40, it WILL shorten the fans life!

yes WD40 makes them turn over more easily, but it is not protecting the bearing in any way! Oil is a good compromise, it wont last as long in the bearings, you will need to replace it after a while, but it causes less drag in the bearing than grease...

Well i spose its your decision.... but i know for a fact the fan wont last as long.

[The Coolest]

OK, now I started to pay attention how long do u think the fan will hold on?

[Myself and I]

can you just buy that3-1 greese from an auto parts store