{{short description|American manufacturing company}} {{Distinguish|Havoline}} {{Infobox company | name = Valvoline Inc. | logo = Valvoline company logo.svg | logo_size = 150 | former_name = {{plainlist| * Continuous Oil Refining Co. (1866) * Ellis & Leonard }} | type = Public | traded_as = {{ubl|{{NYSE|VVV}}|S&P 400 component}} | industry = Chemical manufacturing and distribution, car repair | predecessors = {{unbulleted list|Freedom-Valvoline Company|Ashland Inc.}} | founded = {{Start date and age|1866|09|06}} in Binghamton, New York, U.S. (as the Continuous Oil Refining Company) | founder = John Ellis | hq_location_city = Lexington, Kentucky | hq_location_country = U.S. | key_people = {{unbulleted list|Lori Flees (CEO)|Mary Meixelsperger (CFO)}} | num_employees = 11,400 | num_employees_year = 2025 | revenue = {{Increase}} {{US$|1.71 billion|link=yes}} (2025) | operating_income = {{Increase}} {{US$|390 million}} (2025) | net_income = {{Decrease}} {{US$|210 million}} (2025) | assets = {{Increase}} {{US$|2.67 billion}} (2025) | equity = {{Increase}} {{US$|339 million}} (2025) | parent = | subsid = {{unbulleted list|Valvoline Instant Oil Change|Valvoline Express Care}} | website = {{URL|valvoline.com}} | footnotes = <ref name="BizCourier Caproni">{{cite news|title=Ashland, Valvoline complete split|first=Erin|last=Caproni|work=Cincinnati Business Courier|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=May 15, 2017|access-date=November 9, 2019|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/05/15/greater-cincinnati-public-company-completes-split.html|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730191819/https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/05/15/greater-cincinnati-public-company-completes-split.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SmileyPete Baniak">{{cite news|title=Lexington-based Valvoline Separates from Ashland Inc., Moves into New Headquarters|first=Susan|last=Baniak|work=Business Lexington|publisher=Smiley Pete Publishing|date=June 22, 2017|access-date=November 9, 2019|url=https://smileypete.com/business/lexington-based-valvoline-separates-from-ashland-inc-moves-into-new-headquarters/|archive-date=November 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109210003/https://smileypete.com/business/lexington-based-valvoline-separates-from-ashland-inc-moves-into-new-headquarters/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="10-K">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1674910/000167491025000135/vvv-20250930.htm|title=Valvoline Inc. FY 2025 Annual Report (Form 10-K)|date=November 21, 2025|publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|access-date=November 25, 2025}}</ref> }}
'''Valvoline Inc.''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|æ|l|v|ə|l|iː|n}} {{respell|VAL|və|leen}}) is an American retail automotive services company based in Lexington, Kentucky. It licenses the name for a number of Valvoline-labeled automotive oil, additives, and lubricants. It also owns the Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Great Canadian Oil Change and Valvoline Express Care car repair chains. {{As of|2023}}, it is the second largest oil change service provider in the United States with 10% market share and over 1,650 locations.<ref name="Barron's Willoughby">{{cite news|title=Valvoline Spinoff: A 45% Gain for Ashland Holders|first=Jack|last=Willoughby|publisher=Dow Jones & Company|date=March 12, 2016|access-date=November 9, 2019|work=Barron's|url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/valvoline-spinoff-a-45-gain-for-ashland-holders-1457759977|archive-date=April 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412023925/https://www.barrons.com/articles/valvoline-spinoff-a-45-gain-for-ashland-holders-1457759977|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Motor oil maker Valvoline maps IPO spinoff from Ashland|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|publisher=Gannett Company|date=September 13, 2016|access-date=November 9, 2019|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/09/13/motor-oilvalvoline-maps-ipo-spinoff-ashland/90312514/|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416184759/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/09/13/motor-oilvalvoline-maps-ipo-spinoff-ashland/90312514/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=About Us |url=https://www.vioc.com/about |access-date=2023-06-19 |archive-date=2023-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530163653/https://www.vioc.com/about |url-status=live }}</ref>
== History == thumb|left|Valvoline motor oils exhibited In the early 1860s, Dr. John Ellis, a Massachusetts-born physician, traveled to Titusville, Pennsylvania, which was the epicenter of America's nascent petroleum industry, to research crude oil as a potential medical compound. Instead, he found it to be an excellent lubricant for machinery.<ref name=":1" /> Ellis built his own equipment for improving the crude's lubricating qualities. In 1866, he partnered with his wife's relative, who had an oil refinery in Binghamton, New York, to found the Continuous Oil Refining Company, which produced petroleum lubricant for steam engines.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=The Original Behind the Original|url=https://www.valvolineglobal.com/en/blog/frequently-asked-questions/the-original-behind-the-original/|website=Valvoline™ Global|access-date=December 2, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206130525/https://www.valvolineglobal.com/en/blog/frequently-asked-questions/the-original-behind-the-original/|archive-date=December 6, 2024|language=en}}</ref> Originally, Ellis named his lubricant Binghamton Cylinder Oil, but two years later, he renamed it to the simpler and more memorable Valvoline. In 1869, he moved the Continuous Oil Refining Company to Brooklyn.<ref name=":0" /> With his son and son-in-law, Ellis renamed the company to "Ellis & Leonard" and relocated to Shadyside, New Jersey. Valvoline received commendations by Charles F. Chandler and others at the Paris Exhibition of 1878.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p4o9AQAAIAAJ&q=valvoline|title=Scientific American, "Valvoline"|date=1878-12-07|publisher=Munn & Company|pages=356|language=en}}</ref> By the 1890s, Valvoline oil was associated with winning race cars.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Valvoline was born in Binghamton|first=Gerald|last=Smith|work=Press & Sun-Bulletin|publisher=Gannett Company|date=November 19, 2014|access-date=November 9, 2019|url=https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/connections/history/2014/11/19/binghamton-based-oil-household-name-today/19266239/|archive-date=February 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220233821/https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/connections/history/2014/11/19/binghamton-based-oil-household-name-today/19266239/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the early 20th century, Valvoline was the recommended motor oil for the Ford Model T.<ref name="Barron's Willoughby" />
In 1949, Ashland Inc. purchased the Freedom-Valvoline Company.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Brief History Of Major Oil Companies In The Gulf Region|first=Eric V.|last=Thompson|publisher=University of Virginia|url=https://www2.virginia.edu/igpr/APAG/apagoilhistory.html|access-date=2019-11-09|archive-date=2019-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306093613/http://virginia.edu/igpr/APAG/apagoilhistory.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
By 2016, Ashland's Valvoline subsidiary accounted for about 37% of the parent company's annual revenue.<ref name="Barron's Willoughby" /> Valvoline completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange on September 22, 2016,<ref>{{cite news|title=Valvoline IPO Prices at $22 a Share|first=Josh|last=Beckerman|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=Dow Jones & Company|date=September 22, 2016|access-date=November 9, 2019|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/valvoline-ipo-prices-at-22-a-share-1474589751|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416184759/https://www.wsj.com/articles/valvoline-ipo-prices-at-22-a-share-1474589751|url-status=live}}</ref> ahead of Ashland spinning off Valvoline as an independent company on May 5, 2017.<ref name="BizCourier Caproni" />
On August 1, 2022, Saudi Aramco announced the acquisition of Valvoline's lubricant unit for US$2.65{{nbsp}}billion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/valvoline-sell-global-products-unit-saudi-aramco-265-bln-2022-08-01/ |title=Valvoline fuels retail drive with $2.65 bln lubricants unit sale to Saudi Aramco |date=August 1, 2022 |work=Reuters |first=Rithika |last=Krishna |access-date=2023-06-19 |archive-date=2022-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822032319/https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/valvoline-sell-global-products-unit-saudi-aramco-265-bln-2022-08-01/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gnana |first=Jennifer |date=2022-08-01 |title=Saudi Aramco acquires Valvoline in downstream push |url=https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/080122-saudi-aramco-acquires-valvoline-in-downstream-push |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=www.spglobal.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802092559/https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/080122-saudi-aramco-acquires-valvoline-in-downstream-push |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Automobile and motorcycle partnerships== Valvoline is an official recommended fuel and motor oil for all General Motors marquees including Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac and also all-Honda Motor Company group brands including Honda and Acura for automobiles only as well as Honda for motorcycles only.
== Sponsorships ==
===NASCAR=== left|thumb|Mark Martin running Valvoline colors in 1997 at Pocono Valvoline has sponsored in some sort of capacity in NASCAR since 1981. They first entered the sport with Cale Yarborough in 1981 and 1982 with M. C. Anderson Racing. In 1983 and 1984, they appeared on the Wood Brothers Racing legendary 21 car with Buddy Baker then the year after they sponsored Ron Bouchard and the 47 Race Hill Farms Team. The brand followed Bouchard to Curb Racing in 1986 and then ran with Greg Sacks in 1987 in the 50 for the Dingman Brothers Racing team. The following season, they sponsored RahMoc Enterprises and Neil Bonnett, which capped the season off with a win in Australia, NASCAR's first entry outside of North America.
thumb|The No. 10 at the 2003 Auto Club 500In 1992, they started a relationship with Roush Racing and driver Mark Martin which resulted in 27 wins together, one of the winningest combinations in NASCAR history. After the year 2000, Valvoline executive James Rocco decided he wanted to get into the car ownership side of the sport and Valvoline would own and sponsor a team, an unprecedented move at the time. They bought a share of the #10 team that MB2 Motorsports had acquired from Tyler Jet Motorsports during the 2000 season, ran the team as MBV Motorsports (the V standing for Valvoline, and began sponsoring the team in 2001 with Johnny Benson as driver. After winning once in three seasons, Benson was replaced with Scott Riggs. After the 2005 season, Valvoline elected to end its arrangement with MB2 and bought a stake in Evernham Motorsports, taking its sponsorship, car number, and driver to the team. Riggs finished 20th in the series points standings in 2006, but struggled mightily in 2007 and was released prior to the end of the season.
[[Image:AlanKulwicki1989Phoenix.jpg|thumb|left|1989 car at Phoenix]]In 2007, the team signed Canadian Patrick Carpentier to drive the car. After 2008, Valvoline scaled back its sponsorship to a part time role in 2009 when that team merged with Petty Enterprises and formed Richard Petty Motorsports, they sponsored both Reed Sorenson and A. J. Allmendinger that year on the 43 and 44 Dodge Chargers. Following the season, the sponsorship returned to Roush Fenway Racing to sponsor Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle in some capacity over the years while also sponsoring Allmendinger's 43 Ford at Richard Petty Motorsports. In 2014, the oil brand reunited with Hendrick Motorsports and continues to this day, they currently sponsor Kyle Larson and William Byron.
In addition to its main brand, Valvoline sponsored Alan Kulwicki and AK Racing from 1987 to 1990 with its Zerex brand of coolants and Rusty Wallace and Blue Max Racing with its Alugard brand of coolants.
===Other motorsports=== [[File:AlUnserJr1990.JPG|thumb|Al Unser Jr. running the 1990 Indianapolis 500]]Valvoline sponsored a number of auto races to market its motor oil, including the SCCA National Championship Runoffs and Bommarito Automotive Group 500. Valvoline also sponsored the first woman to compete in both the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500, Janet Guthrie, as well as CART driver Al Unser Jr. (1988–1993).<ref name="SmileyPete Baniak" />{{Failed verification|reason=cite doesn't back up all these statements|date=September 2025}}
In Australia, Valvoline owns naming rights to the Sydney Speedway<ref>{{cite news|title=SYDNEY SPEEDWAY TO BE DEMOLISHED|url=https://autoaction.com.au/2019/10/21/sydney-speedway-to-be-demolished|website=Auto Action}}</ref> and sponsors the Australian Sprintcar Grand Prix. It also sponsored the 1994 Australian Manufacturers' Championship.
Since June 2020, Valvoline sponsors La Liga association club Sevilla FC as a global partner, with their logo appearing on the sleeves of match kits.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sevilla FC Valvoline|url=https://www.valvolineglobal.com/en-mea/sevilla-fc/|website=Valvoline Global}}</ref>
Since July 2023 Valvoline is currently sponsoring the Aston Martin Formula One team as an extension of the team's existing partnership with Aramco, and the partnership will be upgraded to lubricant supply role from 2026 season onwards due to Honda engine direct partnership.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/news/announcement/aston-martin-aramco-reaches-milestone-technical-collaboration-ahead-of-2026-F1-regulations|title=Aston Martin Aramco reaches milestone technical collaboration ahead of 2026 F1 regulations|website=www.astonmartinf1.com}}</ref> From the 2025–26 season onwards, Valvoline will also be supplying lubricants to Mahindra-backed Mahindra Formula E Team.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}}
{{S&P 400 companies}}
Category:1866 establishments in New York (state) Category:American companies established in 1866 Category:Chemical companies of the United States Category:Petrochemical companies Category:Companies based in Lexington, Kentucky Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Category:Companies in the S&P 400 Category:Manufacturing companies based in Kentucky Category:Non-renewable resource companies established in 1866 Category:Chemical companies established in 1866 Category:Franchises Category:Corporate spin-offs Category:1949 mergers and acquisitions Category:2016 initial public offerings