Valvoline

About Valvoline

Valvoline is the world's first branded motor oil — the brand name was registered in 1873 in Lexington, Kentucky by Dr. John Ellis, who had developed a petroleum-based steam-engine lubricant a few years earlier. The brand pre-dates the automobile itself and has been continuously in production for 150+ years, making Valvoline the oldest branded motor oil in the world.

What's actually in a quality engine oil

Engine oil is a precisely engineered blend of base oil (mineral, semi-synthetic, or full-synthetic) and an additive package — detergents, dispersants, anti-wear agents, viscosity modifiers, antioxidants. The base oil and the additive package both matter; cheap oil typically cuts the additive package, which is what causes premature engine wear, sludge build-up and shorter oil-change intervals.

Valvoline's modern ranges cover the spectrum — SynPower fully-synthetic for performance and modern long-drain applications, MaxLife specifically engineered for higher-mileage engines with seal-conditioning additives that reduce oil burn, and DuraBlend semi-synthetic for typical service use. All meet or exceed the latest API and ACEA specifications.

Specifications matter — check before you buy

Every modern engine has a specific oil specification — viscosity (e.g. 5W-30) and an approval code (e.g. VW 504.00, BMW LL-04, MB 229.5). Using the wrong specification can damage the engine over time, particularly on long-drain modern engines that rely on specific additive chemistry to manage emissions equipment and timing-chain wear. Check your handbook or filler-cap spec before buying any oil.

Find the right Valvoline oil for your vehicle by entering your registration above — we'll filter to oils that match your engine's specification.

Visit Valvoline UK for the product range and oil-specification finder.