How and what to lubricate the cooler of a laptop or stationary computer

Why is the cooler making noise?

Cooling fans in computers are conventional brushless electric motors with an impeller mounted on a shaft, which, when rotated, creates a stream of air. The shaft is mounted on a bushing or bearing - these parts provide smooth movement. They are filled with grease from the factory, but over time, the mixture thickens and dries up, which leads to increased vibration, foreign noise and wear and tear.

When to lubricate the cooler

It is best to do this as soon as the noise appears to prevent wear and tear. Timely lubrication of the cooler will easily return it to working condition. But if you hesitate, then only replacing the fan will save you from the annoying hum.

Also, for prophylaxis, it is advisable to lubricate the cooler when cleaning from dust along with

replacement of thermal paste, when there is free access to it during disassembly.

How to lubricate the cooler

For this, almost any not very thick and at the same time not too liquid lubricant is suitable. Suitable for universal silicone, machine oil for household appliances, CIATIM-201, petroleum jelly or automotive engine oil.

But the sunflower, olive and any other edible oil should never be used: it will dry out quickly and will only worsen the condition of the fan. Do not take the WD ‑ 40 Multi Purpose Cleaner either, as it is not a lubricant and is absolutely not intended for such purposes.

How to lubricate a cooler

1. Prepare everything you need

You will need:

• Screwdriver;
• tweezers;
• knife;
• soldering iron;
• soft brush;
• cotton buds;
• wet wipes;
• threads;
• syringe;
• alcohol;
• grease.

2. Remove the cooler

Removing the fan will vary depending on the device. But in any case, disassembly of the computer will be required, which will lead to the loss of the service warranty. Keep this in mind.

From the computer

In stationary models, it is enough to turn off the power, remove the side cover, and then disconnect the cooler cable, unscrew the fastening screws with a screwdriver and carefully remove the fan. More details can be found in our instructions for cleaning the computer from dust.

From laptop

Complete disassembly is indispensable in laptop PCs. This is a rather non-trivial task, especially for those who are doing this for the first time. It is best to find instructions specifically for your model on YouTube and study it carefully.

The general algorithm is as follows: the battery, RAM, drive are pulled out, after which the back cover is removed. This is usually enough to access the cooler. But in rare cases, you will also have to dismantle the front panel. Look for the nuances of the process in our instructions for eliminating dust from laptops.

3. Clean the cooler outside

When the fan is removed, the first step is to put it in order. To do this, brush off the dust from the body and blades with a soft brush, and then wipe everything clean with damp wipes or cotton swabs dipped in alcohol.

4. Disassemble the cooler

To lubricate the fan, you need access to its shaft. Depending on the design, it can be obtained in different ways. In the simplest case, it is enough to peel off sticker, and in the most difficult part, you will have to tinker with removing the impeller or drilling a hole where you can drip grease.

On the computer

Collapsible cooler

A standard serviceable fan is easy to disassemble. It's easy to understand that you have just such a thing: turn it over with the impeller down and gently pry it sharp knife sticker in the center of the case. If there's a rubber plug underneath, you're in luck.

Remove this plug by prying it out with a thin screwdriver or needle. Before you will be a shaft and bushing, which can be lubricated through the hole.

If the impeller rotates freely, it is sufficient to simply machine the shaft. If the cooler stumbles, you first need to clean out the remnants of the old, dried out product. To do this, carefully pry and remove the lock washer (white cut ring), then pull out the impeller along with the shaft.

Then remove the accumulated dirt with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and wet wipes.

Non-dismountable cooler

You have just one if there is no hint of a removable plug under its sticker. But this does not mean that the cooler cannot be disassembled! There are at least three ways.

The impeller can be removed by pushing it out of the bearing. To do this, turn the cooler over, and then, gently and evenly pressing on the blades closer to the center, try to push the part out to open access to the lubricant sleeve. It is important to feel the pressure here and not to overdo it, so as not break blades. If it doesn’t work, it’s better to use another method.

Another option that is most often used for video card coolers is pulling the impeller. Make three loops out of strong threads and put them on the fan blades, evenly distributing them around the circle. Fold the ends into a single bundle and gently pull on it, gently wiggling the piece from side to side while supporting the body. The first time the element is removed with quite a lot of effort, but later it will be easy.

The third way to get to the bushing is by drilling a hole in the body. Suitable if you do not want or cannot remove the impeller. In this case, take a drill with a diameter of 1–1.5 millimeters and, placing it in the center on the back of the cooler, make a hole in the plastic. You can use screwdriverbut very neat. Better to try it by hand: drill very little there.

On laptop

Collapsible cooler

Some laptops use demountable coolers. They are easily recognizable by the screws on the cover. If you have one, unscrew the holders with a screwdriver, remove the top panel and simply pull out the impeller.

Non-dismountable cooler

Miniature coolers are often made non-separable. Plastic rivets are used instead of screws, and the impeller cannot be removed just like that. In this case, carefully cut off the plastic parts with a sharp knife and pry off the top cover using the same tool or a thin screwdriver.

To remove the shaft, turn the fan over and use tweezers to push on the edges of the round base of the impeller.

5. Apply lubricant

Now that there is access to the shaft and bushing (bearing), the rubbing surfaces can be lubricated. Using a syringe or other method, apply one to two drops of the product to the parts. Spin the impeller to spread the grease over the surfaces, and add literally one more drop.

6. Assemble the cooler and reinstall

On the computer

Collapsible cooler

On a serviced cooler, insert a rubber stopper into the case, wipe the plastic around it with a napkin moistened with alcohol to degrease, and replace the sticker. If the sticker does not stick or is damaged, you can replace it with a piece of good scotch tape or electrical tape.

Install the fan into the system unit, insert the power connector and attach the cover.

Non-dismountable cooler

If the impeller was squeezed out or pulled back on an unattended cooler, then it is enough to simply put it back in place. It is held in place by a magnet, so it will not fall out, even if inserted quite easily.

If you did not touch the impeller, but drilled a hole in the housing, then wipe the area around the hole with alcohol and seal it with tape or tape.

Put the cooler back in place, connect the power connector and secure the side cover of the system unit.

On laptop

Collapsible cooler

Replace the impeller with the shaft, cover the structure with the top cover and fix it with the fixing screws.

Install the fan into the laptop and reassemble the device.

Non-dismountable cooler

Place the impeller in the bearing and check that it rotates freely. Replace the upper case by aligning the cut pins with the holes in the cover and snapping them into place. Clear soldering iron, heat it up and slightly melt the pins to make it look like rivets.

After that, return the cooler to the laptop and reassemble the entire structure.