The box fan is in my RV so that makes this an RV question.Anyways..I have been cleaning my box fan off and on. Get the fuzz, cat hair, doll hair out and then put some turbine style oil on the sleeve bearings.Maybe i put on too much this time?Well, the fan went like one day and that night it was laboring. Now it shows no signs of life. No hum or nothing.Pulled it apart again and saw no obstructions. I was hoping to see some doll hair but no.Q: Can oil mess up windings on a motor?

I think you already learned the answer.

I don't think so. An ac compressor lives in an oil and freon environment without an issue. I think your sleeve bushings are the issue.

Bushings? Explain.The motor spins freely.

Wisdom is gained by experience.Experience is gained by messing up.

Oiled my box fan and it broke... | Good Sam Community

Grit_dog
Navigator
May 20, 2023
Are we talking about something more special than your avg $19.99 box fan? Like the kind I have 3 or 4 kicking around. 1 that hasn’t been shut off for idk, over 5 years now down in the pump house.
I mean, the alternator went out on my sons 1986 truck last night too. Had to drive home w no lights on. But never thought about posting it on the inner webs….Wondering if if dog hair (not doll hair, that’s just creepy) caused it to fail…lol.
wildtoad
Explorer II
May 20, 2023
Did you by chance read (if available) the owners guide to maintain the fan. Plenty of fans out there that have been running for decades with just blowing the dust off.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 20, 2023
Oil can mess up the windings but it takes a lot of it.
But sleeve bearings eventually wear out. Even if oiled.
C_Schomer
Explorer
May 20, 2023
It's way better to use solvent to clean the varnish out of the wicks first, blow them out and let dry and then oil. The no-run problem could be many things. Maybe a bad switch... have you checked volts and amps? Craig
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 20, 2023
Doll hair??
groundhogy
Explorer
May 20, 2023
Wisdom is gained by experience.
Experience is gained by messing up.
groundhogy
Explorer
May 20, 2023
Bushings? Explain.
The motor spins freely.
DancinCampers
Explorer II
May 20, 2023
I don't think so. An ac compressor lives in an oil and freon environment without an issue. I think your sleeve bushings are the issue.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
May 19, 2023
I think you already learned the answer.

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Oiled my box fan and it broke...

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