I opened mine an hour ago and cleaned the best I can without reaching the heatsink. I was scared to unplug the wiring tbh on the metal sheet. Is there a way to get to the heatsink from the top? I thought if I removed the power supply from the top I'd see some of the heatsink and clean it but the power supply wouldn't budge and thought there are screws stuck to it from the bottom.
Don't place the PS4 on the floor. It'll suck in all the dust and hair and whatever.
The picture I posted shows what my heatsink looked like from cleaning it monthly about 6 months after launch (it's a launch model). Like I said even if you have bore brushes, canned air and all sorts of other tool you cannot get the far left side or the top right sides.
Mine was unbearably loud during Knack 2, MGS4, Wolfenstein 2, etc.
It didn't stop until I took it completely apart and did a deep clean. I completely cleaned off the APU with Artic Clean kit, cotton swabs and coffee filters. Used a small pea amount of MX4 and put it all back together after cleaning the heatsink completely.
My Pro is a launch model and now I can leave it in the menu on MGS4 or while planning Wolfenstein and I can't hear it.
Even if I put my ear next too it all I'm hearing is the flow of air coming out the back.
I mean look at that heatsink, that's like 45% blockage in airflow. I'm a PC guy so for me this was incredibly easy to do. It was just time consuming because you literally have to take the whole thing apart almost.
Tbh I'm thinking about getting some after market dust filters that would normally be for PCs and place them in the Pro gaps on the side and see how well that works.
But to answer your question no there is no way to get to that area unless you take it completely apart.
Even if you just try to do it from the PSU side you're not getting the front of the Heatsink where the fan shroud connects.
The best you could do is push it out where the fan is then blow it out from the other side but you just can't see it to make sure.
I'd recommend everyone buy some quality thermal compound and take the hour or so to do it if they are out of warranty.
Keep everything tidy and keep an account of your screws. Use a small pea sized amount of thermal paste and don't use paste that's conductive.
I'm not going to fault Sony and their design choices, it's increbily compact and efficient.
