My patience wore thin with a whirring PC fan, until I tried oil.

The noise was so annoying during the fix. A drop of oil on the bearing stopped the noise.

4 comments

4 Comments

Old fans can really drive you up the wall with that whirring. I mean, idk, but I've dealt with that grinding noise before. Tried oil on the bearing and it worked like a charm. My buddy used WD-40 on his fan, but that can gunk it up over time. So yeah, basic oil is the way to go. Just a tiny drop, though.

the_charlie1mo ago

3-in-1 oil has a tiny spout that's perfect for fan bearings. If the noise comes back quick, the bearing might be worn out and need a swap.

max_brown19d ago

Oh totally, that little spout is a lifesaver for getting oil right where you need it. I had a fan that would quiet down for a week then start up again, just like @nelson.vera mentioned, until I finally swapped the bearing. It's a quick fix once you accept the old one's just worn out.

nelson.vera1mo agoMost Upvoted

Wondering if we make too big a deal out of these little noises. Sometimes a whirring fan is just a background hum you start to notice when you're trying to focus. I've ignored that sound for months by just using headphones or, honestly, turning up the game volume. Unless it's a true grinding scream, it's often not worth the hassle of taking things apart (and possibly making it worse).