Frequently
Asked
Questions

Noisy Computer Fan? Use FanLube!

"So tell me again, what exactly is FanLube?"
FanLube is a blend of hi-tech silicones. There are several ingredients, selected so that FanLube will penetrate the fan bearing, displace any moisture, then work continuously at high speeds without evaporation or degradation.

"Who developed FanLube?"
FanLube was researched, formulated and developed by Sunbird Laboratories, UK. Their Senior Research Chemist decided to formulate a product when desperate that his own laptop was "making a noise like a cement mixer" and over-heating. He had been unable to buy a replacement fan, and couldn't even find an old machine to buy on eBay for replacement parts...

"Is FanLube safe?"
Yes, all the ingredients of FanLube are incredibly safe - each of them is commonly used in bodycare products, so do not present any hazard to you when using them to lubricate your laptop fan!

"Why shouldn't I use WD-40 instead?"
This is a fantastic product that has solved many problems for many people - but it isn't of any use for computer fans. WD-40 actually stands for ' Water Displacement, 40th attempt'! And displacing water from metal surfaces is what is does very well. But it contains solvents and a thin oil to penetrate and remove rust and grease - not a problem with most PC fans... It has corrosion inhibitors to protect metal surfaces when in fact your fan is mostly plastic. It then leaves a thin film of light lubricant that is quite unsuitable for sustained high-speed use. Even the manufacturers state that it is more suitable for a rusty hinge than for a high speed fan bearing!

"Why shouldn't I use a 20W-50 engine oil instead?"
Oh for goodness sake! This is often suggested when it is actually designed for conditions totally unalike a tiny electrical fan. It is intended for car engines made of metal and working at high pressures and temperatures that are literally 'red hot'. At room temperatures it is a sticky oil quite unlikely to penetrate inside the sealed bearing of your PC fan. And it's high viscosity means an excessive load on the electric motor of your fan once it is in operation.

"Why shouldn't I use 3-in-1 oil or sewing machine oil instead?"
Sewing machine oil is often recommended , but this is a 'fine oil' that will only cause a temporary improvement. Sewing machines are built with ports to enable regular lubrication with a light oil. (Weekly if used regularly.) This enables the slow leakage of oil, and its frequent replacement, to cause a flow of oil that removes particles of fabric from the bearings. The situation with your PC fan is completely different - you have a sealed bearing into which you have to struggle to introduce a lubricant, and you need to choose a lubricant that will stay there for years. A blend of silicones will do this, but a light mineral oil will not.
3-in-One oil is also a light, general purpose oil with very similar characteristics to sewing machine oil. It may bring about a very short-lived improvement, but before long you will be taking things apart again and wishing that you had done the job properly first time! Use a silicone oil like FanLube!

"Why shouldn't I use a Vegetable Oil?"
Most people will have a cheap vegetable oil in their kitchen. Maybe sunflower oil or olive oil. Take the cap off and run your finger round the neck of a bottle that you have had for some time - you will feel a stickiness. That is oil that has oxidised. Initially it goes rancid, and becomes more viscous. Then eventually it polymerises and forms a sticky gel. You really don't want that in your fan bearing!

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