About a week ago, I opened up my Framework 13 (AMD 7040 model) to clean out dust from the fan unit; I unscrewed and unplugged the fan/heat sink unit, removed a glob of dust from the fan intake, and put the fan/heat sink unit back in place following the instructions here (just putting the same fan unit back in place instead of replacing it with a new one). This seemed to work fine—the fans had been getting noticeably louder over time and the laptop was running hotter, and after I cleaned out the dust, it’s been quieter and cooler.
However, starting today, I noticed a high-pitched whining noise accompanying the fans. I can tell it’s the fans because I can hear the fan motor spinning up when the noise starts and spinning down when it stops, and as far as I’m aware that’s the only moving part so I can’t think of anything else it could be. It’s not very loud, but it is new and I want to make sure it’s not a sign of a problem, or if it is, what I should do about it.
Contact support and start a ticket with them. If it is newer it is still under warranty and as long as it is not user damage it should be covered.
If a glob of dust was on the intake then for sure smaller dust particles have made it into the fan and housing. This will accelerate wear on the little fan itself. It does not take much. A thorough cleaning of the heat sink fins and fan is probably necessary.
Fortunately the fan is pretty easily replaced just like all the other components. It might be a good idea to purchase a spare or two to keep on hand if this is how the device is going to be used in the future. That way when the fan truly declines or stops the parts are on hand.
Good idea, I’ve gone ahead and contacted support. Unfortunately I don’t think it’s under warranty as I purchased the laptop a little over 13 months ago, and I’m in the US. Hopefully there’s a recommended way to more thoroughly clean the fan unit; of course it’d be easy enough to replace it but I’d rather not buy a new fan unit if the old one can be cleaned/fixed.
The fan bearings probably need some oil. Remove the fans and pull back the sticker on the central hub. Underneath you will fine the spindle bearing. A couple of drops of light oil, such as sewing machine oil, and let it soak in (the bearings are porous and designed to hold oil).
Don’t put too much oil in as it will leak out everywhere over time. A couple of drops should be sufficient. Wipe around the outside of the cavity and reseal the sticker, then refit the fans.
Thanks for the suggestion. However, I got a reply from Framework support, and they specifically recommended against this:
Additionally, we can’t recommend putting oil in a laptop fan to lubricate the bearings. It is not recommended, and doing it wrong can permanently damage the laptop.
They recommended replacing the heatsink/fan unit, so that’s what I’m planning to do. Based on some of the other info I read online, it sounds like the fans making that high-pitched whining noise probably means that there’s already some damage to the bearings that’s causing it to move improperly and make that noise, and adding extra lubrication would at best just delay it needing replacement.
Oh, OK. Other similar fans I have dealt with will show a circlip holding the fan shaft at that point. I do wonder if what you see is a cap over the end of the shaft. If it was mine I would look into prising it out, but then …
… that sort of kills the idea. What I have found is that the bearing will eventually run dry of oil and the shaft then chatters in the bearing, often being quite stiff to turn when cold.
Maybe something to investigate once you get replacement fans.
I have seen the same and was surprised when I saw this trying to oil my own fan. If/when it gets bad enough to warrant replacing the whole cooling systems I’m going to do some “exploratory surgery”.
As a further update, I asked Framework support about preventative dust maintenance and here’s what they said:
In terms of cleaning:
Frequency: We generally recommend checking for dust buildup every 6–12 months, depending on your environment. If you use your laptop in a dusty area or with pets, you may want to check more often.
Method: Using compressed air is the best way to clean the fan unit.
Precautions: Avoid liquid cleaners or oils, as these can damage the bearings or electronics. Also, do not insert objects into the fan housing.
By keeping the fan clear of dust, you’ll help maintain cooling performance and extend the lifespan of the component.
I waited longer than 12 months to clean the fans and I do use the laptop in a space with cats, so I definitely should’ve cleaned it sooner; I’m guessing the additional stress on the fans from dust buildup contributed to wearing out the bearings faster.
