[HankB99]

WD40 - Nooooo! It gets gummy. Use a proper lubricating oil. Or replace the fan.

"Pro tip:" Do not direct the output of a strong air stream (e.g. the kind used for automotive work) at the fan as it can de-blade the fan.

[hutzlibu]

Good to know, but in those few fans I used it for, it worked so far ..

[BizarroLand]

And if you do that anyway, don't be a dingus.

Disconnect the fan cable from the socket so that the motor doesn't send pulses of energy back into your laptop. It probably won't harm it, but better safe than sorry.

[malfist]

Motors have flyback diodes. Otherwise they'd burn out things every time they turn off

[BizarroLand]

Not in most laptops they don't.

https://forum.arduino.cc/t/is-a-flyback-diode-built-into-lap...

"You will find those fans are brushless DC fans, they are controlled by an inbuilt driver circuit and as such do not need a flyback diode."

[malfist]

So you "disprove" my statement with some rando on the Arduino message board that has less than 20 posts in their lifetime?

What makes you think they're an authority?

Brushless motor still have fly back voltage that has to be clamped. You may not need to install a diode in the fan, but I can guarantee you that this "inbuilt driver circuit" has such a diode.

And if you read the linked thread a bit more you'd see where they test it and it does produce -100V at shutdown. If there wasn't a flyback diodes it'd be burning out ic's left and right

[BizarroLand]

Why would I accept your word without any backup?

Its on you to provide evidence of your claim, not on me to disprove your unfounded claim.