Guarantor Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 01, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 159		$ 96
Accounts receivable, net	401	$ 376	409
Inventories, net	194	190	176
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	43		44
Total current assets	797		725
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	498		420
Goodwill and intangibles, net	504		448
Equity method investments	34		31
Investment in subsidiaries	0		0
Deferred income taxes	123	$ 144	138
Other noncurrent assets	108		92
Total noncurrent assets	1,267		1,129
Total assets	2,064		1,854
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	15		30
Trade and other payables	171		178
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	237		203
Total current liabilities	423		411
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	1,327		1,292
Employee benefit obligations	387		333
Other noncurrent liabilities	185		176
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,899		1,801
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' (deficit) equity	(258)		(358)	$ (117)	$ (330)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	2,064		1,854
Eliminations
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Accounts receivable, net	(118)		(119)
Inventories, net	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	0		0
Total current assets	(118)		(119)
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	0		0
Goodwill and intangibles, net	0		0
Equity method investments	0		0
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,703)		(1,310)
Deferred income taxes	0		0
Other noncurrent assets	0		0
Total noncurrent assets	(1,703)		(1,310)
Total assets	(1,821)		(1,429)
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	0		0
Trade and other payables	(118)		(119)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0		0
Total current liabilities	(118)		(119)
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	0		0
Employee benefit obligations	0		0
Other noncurrent liabilities	0		0
Total noncurrent liabilities	0		0
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' (deficit) equity	(1,703)		(1,310)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	(1,821)		(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	0		1
Total current assets	0		1
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	0		0
Goodwill and intangibles, net	0		0
Equity method investments	0		0
Investment in subsidiaries	1,157		801
Deferred income taxes	48		62
Other noncurrent assets	3		2
Total noncurrent assets	1,208		865
Total assets	1,208		866
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	15		30
Trade and other payables	80		3
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	9		7
Total current liabilities	104		40
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	1,326		1,151
Employee benefit obligations	0		0
Other noncurrent liabilities	36		33
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,362		1,184
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' (deficit) equity	(258)		(358)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	1,208		866
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	59		20
Accounts receivable, net	181		48
Inventories, net	110		95
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	35		38
Total current assets	385		201
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	431		384
Goodwill and intangibles, net	423		396
Equity method investments	34		31
Investment in subsidiaries	546		509
Deferred income taxes	61		63
Other noncurrent assets	96		85
Total noncurrent assets	1,591		1,468
Total assets	1,976		1,669
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	0		0
Trade and other payables	127		241
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	175		168
Total current liabilities	302		409
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	1		1
Employee benefit obligations	369		317
Other noncurrent liabilities	147		141
Total noncurrent liabilities	517		459
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' (deficit) equity	1,157		801
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	1,976		1,669
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	100		76
Accounts receivable, net	338		480
Inventories, net	84		81
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8		5
Total current assets	530		642
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	67		36
Goodwill and intangibles, net	81		52
Equity method investments	0		0
Investment in subsidiaries	0		0
Deferred income taxes	14		13
Other noncurrent assets	9		5
Total noncurrent assets	171		106
Total assets	701		748
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	0		0
Trade and other payables	82		53
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	53		28
Total current liabilities	135		81
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	0		140
Employee benefit obligations	18		16
Other noncurrent liabilities	2		2
Total noncurrent liabilities	20		158
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' (deficit) equity	546		509
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	$ 701		$ 748