Guarantor Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Oct. 01, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 126				$ 96
Accounts receivable, net	423			$ 376	409
Inventories, net	200			190	176
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	52				44
Total current assets	801				725
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	455				420
Goodwill and intangibles, net	490				448
Equity method investments	35				31
Investment in subsidiaries	0				0
Deferred income taxes	113			$ 144	138
Other noncurrent assets	106				92
Total noncurrent assets	1,199				1,129
Total assets	2,000				1,854
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	7				30
Trade and other payables	163				178
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	242				203
Total current liabilities	412				411
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	1,334				1,292
Employee benefit obligations	322				333
Other noncurrent liabilities	184				176
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,840				1,801
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(252)	$ (298)	$ (343)		(358)	$ (288)	$ (226)	$ (194)	$ (117)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	2,000				1,854
Eliminations
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0				0
Accounts receivable, net	(139)				(119)
Inventories, net	0				0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	0				0
Total current assets	(139)				(119)
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	0				0
Goodwill and intangibles, net	0				0
Equity method investments	0				0
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,711)				(1,310)
Deferred income taxes	0				0
Other noncurrent assets	0				0
Total noncurrent assets	(1,711)				(1,310)
Total assets	(1,850)				(1,429)
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	0				0
Trade and other payables	(139)				(119)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0				0
Total current liabilities	(139)				(119)
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	0				0
Employee benefit obligations	0				0
Other noncurrent liabilities	0				0
Total noncurrent liabilities	0				0
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(1,711)				(1,310)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	(1,850)				(1,429)
Valvoline Inc. (Parent Issuer) | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0				0
Accounts receivable, net	0				0
Inventories, net	0				0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1				1
Total current assets	1				1
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	0				0
Goodwill and intangibles, net	0				0
Equity method investments	0				0
Investment in subsidiaries	1,158				801
Deferred income taxes	79				62
Other noncurrent assets	3				2
Total noncurrent assets	1,240				865
Total assets	1,241				866
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	7				30
Trade and other payables	97				3
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	20				7
Total current liabilities	124				40
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	1,333				1,151
Employee benefit obligations	0				0
Other noncurrent liabilities	36				33
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,369				1,184
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	(252)				(358)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	1,241				866
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	29				20
Accounts receivable, net	203				48
Inventories, net	117				95
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	29				38
Total current assets	378				201
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	408				384
Goodwill and intangibles, net	418				396
Equity method investments	35				31
Investment in subsidiaries	553				509
Deferred income taxes	19				63
Other noncurrent assets	95				85
Total noncurrent assets	1,528				1,468
Total assets	1,906				1,669
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	0				0
Trade and other payables	107				241
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	188				168
Total current liabilities	295				409
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	1				1
Employee benefit obligations	305				317
Other noncurrent liabilities	147				141
Total noncurrent liabilities	453				459
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	1,158				801
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	1,906				1,669
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	97				76
Accounts receivable, net	359				480
Inventories, net	83				81
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	22				5
Total current assets	561				642
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	47				36
Goodwill and intangibles, net	72				52
Equity method investments	0				0
Investment in subsidiaries	0				0
Deferred income taxes	15				13
Other noncurrent assets	8				5
Total noncurrent assets	142				106
Total assets	703				748
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	0				0
Trade and other payables	98				53
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	34				28
Total current liabilities	132				81
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	0				140
Employee benefit obligations	17				16
Other noncurrent liabilities	1				2
Total noncurrent liabilities	18				158
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity	553				509
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	$ 703				$ 748