Xbox Modders: What to do with a noisy GPU fan on a 1.0?

[crispyambulance]

I got a 1.0 where the fan has started to make annoying noise maybe 30-50% of the time when you turn it on. It usually keeps making the noise until turned off or I touch the fan if the case is open. It's definitely that GPU fan. Basically, I can think of a few options I want input on:

Could I just unscrew/unplug the fan from the heatsink/motherboard, and the Xbox would never notice except getting hotter? I can compensate for any heat partially at least by replacing thermal paste.

If the first possibility wouldn't work, could I just partially disassemble the fan, like say leave the power cable and motor but remove the fan? Maybe just cut the power cord and leave the power plug plugged into the fan jack on the Xbox, but remove the whole fan apparatus?

Or can anyone think of some way to fix a mild, sporadic grinding noise in one of these fans? I've cleaned it very thoroughly already. Maybe I can apply some grease somewhere?

[shadowkn55]

Use 3 in 1 motor oil to lubricate the bearings. You want to add just one drop to the nut in the middle of the fan blade. Usually it's underneath a sticker. I've brought many fans back to life with this stuff.

http://www.3inone.com/products/motor-oil/

[crispyambulance]

Seems pretty easy. I won't be able to try it for a couple of weeks because I'm about to move and don't want to transport motor oil, but I'll try it after that.

[dendawg]

Seems pretty easy. I won't be able to try it for a couple of weeks because I'm about to move and don't want to transport motor oil, but I'll try it after that.

It should be in a lighter fluid type can, so it'll be easy to transport.

[crispyambulance]

OK, I finally got around to doing this. Where's the bearing exactly? Shadowkn, you make it sound like there were multiple fans used by Microsoft in these xboxes that had the bearing in different places? I peeled back the sticker on both sides of the center of the assembly (the sticker that faces the gpu, and the sticker that faces the DVD drive) and could find nothing but flat plastic. I lubricated a normal computer fan before this one so I have some idea what this is supposed to look like I think.