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Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations:
Net unamortized debt issuance costs and other	$ (80)	$ (73)
Total debt	8,503	8,310
Capital lease obligations	606	562
Total debt and capital lease obligations	9,109	8,872
Less current portion	238	122
Debt and capital lease obligations, less current portion	8,871	8,750
Credit Facilities [Member] \| Canadian Revolver [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term debt at stated values	0	0
Credit Facilities [Member] \| Accounts Receivable Sales Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term debt at stated values	100	100
Credit Facilities [Member] \| Valero Revolver [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	0	0
Credit Facilities [Member] \| VLP Revolver [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	0	410
Credit Facilities [Member] \| IEnova Revolver [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	109	0
Senior Notes [Member] \| 6.625% Valero Senior Notes Due in 2037 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 1,500	1,500
Interest rate of notes (percent)	6.625%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Valero Senior Notes Due in 2026 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 1,250	1,250
Interest rate of notes (percent)	3.40%		3.40%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Valero Senior Notes Due In 2020 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 850	850
Interest rate of notes (percent)	6.125%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Valero Senior Notes Due in 2028 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 750	0
Interest rate of notes (percent)	4.35%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Valero Senior Notes Due In 2019 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 0	750
Interest rate of notes (percent)	9.375%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Valero Senior Notes Due In 2032 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 750	750
Interest rate of notes (percent)	7.50%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Valero Senior Notes Due in 2045 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 650	650
Interest rate of notes (percent)	4.90%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Valero Senior Notes Due in 2025 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 600	600
Interest rate of notes (percent)	3.65%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Valero Senior Notes Due In 2039 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 250	250
Interest rate of notes (percent)	10.50%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Valero Senior Notes Due In 2030 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 200	200
Interest rate of notes (percent)	8.75%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Valero Senior Notes Due In 2097 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 100	100
Interest rate of notes (percent)	7.45%
Senior Notes [Member] \| 6.75% Valero Senior Notes Due In 2037 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 24	24
Interest rate of notes (percent)	6.75%
Senior Notes [Member] \| VLP Senior Notes Due in 2026 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 500	500
Interest rate of notes (percent)	4.375%		4.375%
Senior Notes [Member] \| VLP Senior Notes Due in 2028 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 500	0
Interest rate of notes (percent)	4.50%
Revenue Bonds [Member] \| Gulf Opportunity Zone Revenue Bonds Series 2010 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 300	300
Interest rate of notes (percent)	4.00%
Debentures [Member] \| Debenture Due In 2026 [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 100	100
Interest rate of notes (percent)	7.65%
Other Debt [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt at stated values	$ 50	$ 49