Valvoline

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American manufacturing company

title: "Valvoline" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1866-establishments-in-new-york-(state)", "american-companies-established-in-1866", "chemical-companies-of-the-united-states", "petrochemical-companies", "companies-based-in-lexington,-kentucky", "companies-listed-on-the-new-york-stock-exchange", "companies-in-the-s&p-400", "manufacturing-companies-based-in-kentucky", "non-renewable-resource-companies-established-in-1866", "chemical-companies-established-in-1866", "franchises", "corporate-spin-offs", "1949-mergers-and-acquisitions", "2016-initial-public-offerings"] description: "American manufacturing company" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valvoline" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American manufacturing company ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
nameValvoline Inc.
logoValvoline company logo.svg
logo_size150
former_name{{plainlist
typePublic
traded_as
industryChemical manufacturing and distribution, car repair
predecessors
foundedin Binghamton, New York, U.S. (as the Continuous Oil Refining Company)
founderJohn Ellis
hq_location_cityLexington, Kentucky
hq_location_countryU.S.
key_people
num_employees11,400
num_employees_year2025
revenue(2025)
operating_income(2025)
net_income(2025)
assets(2025)
equity(2025)
subsid
website
footnotes
::

| 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 = | industry = Chemical manufacturing and distribution, car repair | predecessors = | founded = 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 = | num_employees = 11,400 | num_employees_year = 2025 | revenue = (2025) | operating_income = (2025) | net_income = (2025) | assets = (2025) | equity = (2025) | parent = | subsid = | website = | footnotes =

Valvoline Inc. ( ) 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. , it is the second largest oil change service provider in the United States with 10% market share and over 1,650 locations.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Valvoline_motor_oil.jpg" caption="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. 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. 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. 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. By the 1890s, Valvoline oil was associated with winning race cars. During the early 20th century, Valvoline was the recommended motor oil for the Ford Model T.

In 1949, Ashland Inc. purchased the Freedom-Valvoline Company.

By 2016, Ashland's Valvoline subsidiary accounted for about 37% of the parent company's annual revenue. Valvoline completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange on September 22, 2016, ahead of Ashland spinning off Valvoline as an independent company on May 5, 2017.

On August 1, 2022, Saudi Aramco announced the acquisition of Valvoline's lubricant unit for US$2.65billion.

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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/MarkMartin1997Pocono.jpg" caption="Race Hill Farms Team]]. Following Bouchard to [[Curb Racing]] in 1986 and then 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."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Johnny_Benson_2003.jpg" caption="The No. 10 at the 2003 Auto Club 500]]In 1992, they started their 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 into [[Tyler Jet Motorsports]] which merged into [[MB2 Motorsports]] for the 2001 season on the 10 car. [[Johnny Benson]] would drive for the team for three years, resulting with one win in 2002. Following 2003, the team would sign [[Scott Riggs]] to drive the 10 in 2004. Following the 2005 season, Valvoine sold its share of the team back to MB2 and would take the sponsorship to [[Evernham Motorsports]] where the combo would drive for two more years together."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/AlanKulwicki1989Phoenix.jpg" caption="William Byron]]."] ::

Other brands the Valvoline sponsorship has been involved with other teams including the Zerex Coolant brand which was with AK Racing and Alan Kulwicki from 1986 to 1990 and the Aluguard Antifreeze brand which partnered with Rusty Wallace at Blue Max Racing from 1985 and 1986.

Other motorsports

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/AlUnserJr1990.JPG" caption="date=September 2025}}"] ::

In Australia, Valvoline owns naming rights to the Sydney Speedway 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.

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. From 2025 season onwards Valvoline will also supplying lubricants to Renault-backed BWT Alpine F1 Team.

References

References

  1. Caproni, Erin. (May 15, 2017). "Ashland, Valvoline complete split". American City Business Journals.
  2. Baniak, Susan. (June 22, 2017). "Lexington-based Valvoline Separates from Ashland Inc., Moves into New Headquarters". Smiley Pete Publishing.
  3. (November 21, 2025). "Valvoline Inc. FY 2025 Annual Report (Form 10-K)". [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]].
  4. (September 13, 2016). "Motor oil maker Valvoline maps IPO spinoff from Ashland". Gannett Company.
  5. "About Us".
  6. "The Original Behind the Original".
  7. (1878-12-07). "Scientific American, "Valvoline"". Munn & Company.
  8. Smith, Gerald. (November 19, 2014). "Valvoline was born in Binghamton". Gannett Company.
  9. Thompson, Eric V.. "A Brief History Of Major Oil Companies In The Gulf Region". [[University of Virginia]].
  10. Beckerman, Josh. (September 22, 2016). "Valvoline IPO Prices at $22 a Share". Dow Jones & Company.
  11. Krishna, Rithika. (August 1, 2022). "Valvoline fuels retail drive with $2.65 bln lubricants unit sale to Saudi Aramco". [[Reuters]].
  12. Gnana, Jennifer. (2022-08-01). "Saudi Aramco acquires Valvoline in downstream push".
  13. "SYDNEY SPEEDWAY TO BE DEMOLISHED".
  14. "Sevilla FC Valvoline".
  15. "Aston Martin Aramco reaches milestone technical collaboration ahead of 2026 F1 regulations".

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