Related Party Transactions - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expense	$ 1,000,000	$ 3,000,000
General corporate expenses allocated to Valvoline	0	$ 21,000,000
Hedging instrument | Fair value | Foreign currency derivative
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Notional amount of derivatives	22,000,000
Ashland
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable sold by Ashland to the financial institution	11,000,000		$ 29,000,000
Obligations to related party			73,000,000
Ashland | Other current assets
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Receivables from related party	5,000,000		30,000,000
Ashland | Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Obligations to related party	44,000,000		2,000,000
Ashland | Other long-term liabilities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Obligations to related party	$ 69,000,000		$ 71,000,000