Service Hotline
0755-27087416/18316996909
What Causes Oil Leakage from a Cooling Fan?
- Categories:Technology
- Author:rain
- Origin:capital
- Time of issue:2025-09-12 09:09
- Views:
(Summary description)Oil leakage from a cooling fan may result from improper lubricating oil application, bearing characteristics and wear, poor fan sealing, and other factors.
What Causes Oil Leakage from a Cooling Fan?
(Summary description)Oil leakage from a cooling fan may result from improper lubricating oil application, bearing characteristics and wear, poor fan sealing, and other factors.
- Categories:Technology
- Author:rain
- Origin:capital
- Time of issue:2025-09-12 09:09
- Views:
Oil leakage from a cooling fan may result from improper lubricating oil application, bearing characteristics and wear, poor fan sealing, and other factors.
A detailed analysis is as follows:
1、Issues with Lubricating Oil
Excessive oil addition: If too much lubricating oil is added, the excess oil is likely to be thrown out when the fan operates.
Low-quality oil: If the lubricating oil used is of poor quality and has low viscosity, it cannot adhere well to components like bearings. Under the influence of centrifugal force during fan operation, this oil will also be thrown out.
2、Issues with Bearings
Some cooling fans use oil-impregnated bearings, which have a porous structure by design. After long-term use, the lubricating oil in the bearing sleeve will gradually seep out. This oil leakage becomes more noticeable, especially when the bearings are severely worn. Additionally, worn bearings cause increased noise and shorten the fan’s service life.
3、Issues with Sealing
Cooling fans typically use components like labels to seal the bearing area and prevent lubricating oil leakage.
Oil leakage may occur in the following scenarios:
During maintenance, if the label is torn off to add oil but not reattached properly, or if the label loses its adhesiveness, the sealing effect deteriorates.
During production, if the fan’s sealing components (e.g., oil seal covers) are insufficiently coated with sealant or manufactured with poor sealing processes, the seal will be incomplete, leading to oil leakage.
How Often Should the Lubricating Oil in an Oil-Impregnated Bearing Cooling Fan Be Replaced?
There is no fixed standard for the replacement frequency of lubricating oil in oil-impregnated bearing cooling fans. It mainly depends on the fan’s usage scenario, load intensity, environmental conditions, and the quality of the initial lubricating oil—and should be determined based on actual circumstances.
The core principle is “replace as needed”:
Household low-load scenarios: Inspect every 3–5 years; replace only if abnormalities occur.
Industrial/high-load scenarios: Inspect every 6–12 months; proactively replace every 1–2 years.
Prioritize judgment based on “noise, speed, and startup status” rather than relying solely on service time.
Meanwhile, selecting the correct lubricating oil and controlling the amount added can prevent oil leakage and extend the fan’s service life.
Specific Influencing Factors and Recommended Replacement Cycles
The following factors and recommendations help you plan maintenance rationally:
1、Service Time and Load
Long-term high-speed operation: For fans running at high speeds for extended periods (e.g., cooling fans for servers or industrial equipment, operating 24/7), friction in the bearings generates heat that accelerates oil volatilization and oxidation. Typically, inspection is required every 6–12 months, and replacement every 1–2 years.
Household scenarios: For fans used at home (e.g., computer case fans, operating 4–8 hours daily at low speeds), oil consumption is slow. Inspection every 3–5 years is sufficient—frequent replacement is unnecessary (many household fans are replaced due to other component aging before the oil is exhausted).
2、Environmental Temperature, Humidity, and Dust
High-temperature environments: Fans near heat sources (e.g., cooling fans for CPUs or graphics cards) experience accelerated oil thinning and loss. Shorten the replacement cycle (e.g., fans for equipment in high-temperature workshops may need replacement every 8–10 months).
Humid or dusty environments: Moisture and dust easily seep into bearings, contaminating the oil (reducing lubrication effectiveness and accelerating bearing wear). Inspect every 6–8 months; replace the oil if it becomes turbid.
3、Quality of the Lubricating Oil Itself
High-quality original oil: Premium factory-supplied oils (e.g., special mineral oils or synthetic lubricants) have stable viscosity and strong anti-volatilization properties, resulting in a longer service life.
Low-quality oil added manually: If low-quality oil (e.g., ordinary engine oil or sewing machine oil) is used, its poor high-temperature resistance and oxidation resistance mean it may need reapplication or replacement every 3–6 months.
4、“Abnormal Signals” from the Fan: Address Issues Immediately, Regardless of Fixed Cycles
If the fan shows the following signs, the lubricating oil has failed or is insufficient—inspect and replace it immediately, without adhering to a “fixed cycle”:
Significantly increased noise during operation (e.g., a “buzzing” or “friction” sound, rather than normal airflow noise).
Decreased fan speed (monitorable via software; e.g., computer fan speed drops by more than 10% below the rated value).
Startup lag (the fan takes a few seconds to start spinning after power-on, or occasionally stops rotating).
Capital Technology Co., Limited is the chief agent of SANYO DENKI, one of the leading enterprises of the cooling fan industry. We are a factory who also have our own independent brand CAPITAL product series. The main products are cooling fan, DC/AC fan, radiator, filter, reactor etc. We can provide customer with the most professional and perfect technical support, welcome to contact me at anytime at rainlee@szcpt.com.
Related Products
Copyright©2020 Capital Technology Co., Limited.