SOLVED: Fan sounding like a tractor

[TOTAL]

Hi
I have bought a refurbished thinkpad x230 and all seems fine except that the fan has soon started sounding like a tractor.

At maximum level 7, it keeps CPU at 43 degrees, which is probably not bad apart from being worse from the other x230 model I had with the same processor.

Is it something to be worried about, ie. does this indicate a risk of the fan reaching its end of life? I would expect the laptop (still being on a 30 day warranty) was cleaned before it was sold to me. I wrote to eBay seller but they did not answer. Not sure what is happening, maybe they have withheld operations.

How would repairing this issue look like? Can something be done about the existing fan, or does a replacement need to be installed?

Thanks

[axur-delmeria]

Best you can do is clean and lubricate the fan. If that doesn't fix it, you'll need to replace it.

Also, it's a bad idea to have the fan running at full speed all the time, as it will hasten its wear and tear.

[kfzhu1229]

Depending on your luck, you may or may not have a AVC branded fan on the X230 which *CANNOT* be lubed.
When performing maintenance my dad's X230 with a loud fan, I have the unfortunate experience of having the AVC branded fan. But I also discovered that the fan has broken off blades anyways so I ordered a replacement.
However, one other thing I should point out that you *CANNOT* replace the AVC fan with the other fans. They are all of different shapes AND they might even come with a different connector. I have even seen X220/X230 fans with either a 3 pin or a 4 pin connector. Even if you are replacing the heatsink assembly as a whole, you need to take note on whether you have a 3 pin or 4 pin fan connector.
Not sure what's going on with the quality of the fans that they use in these things but my dad and my mum have X230 and X220i respectively, and both fans failed in one way or another.

[TOTAL]

Thanks for your answer. It would not have occurred to me there might be different types of fan per one model of laptop. The first type in use must have been a disaster!

[TOTAL]

As for the fan being at top speed, this advice I read somewhere on the net, the rationale being that this would extend the lifespan of the more expensive electronics. Poster wrote that fans did not tend to get broken on x230.

[kfzhu1229]

As for the fan being at top speed, this advice I read somewhere on the net, the rationale being that this would extend the lifespan of the more expensive electronics. Poster wrote that fans did not tend to get broken on x230.

If your fan is already in a bad shape and that you already ordered a replacement from China, you might as well blast it high (maybe not Fan 7 or 64, try fan 5 instead) since you don't have anything to lose for doing that.
But again, before you order a replacement (whether it is fan only or an entire heatsink), you have to check what kind of fan that is currently in your system.
If it is something like a Delta branded one and not an AVC branded like mine, try peeling off the manufacturer's sticker and see if there is an opening underneath that allows you to drip oil into.

[TOTAL]

OK. I have heard back from the seller who is happy to get this fixed. I will ask about the fan type as this gets done.