150 years under the hood: the Valvoline story

Valvoline is celebrating its 150th anniversary throughout 2016. Valvoline's celebration honors the company's product innovation, scientific ingenuity, customers, and consumers

Just the other day, a friend and I were chatting online about the psychology of innovation and how remarkable the human brain is because it can come up with ideas big and small. Some ideas do not see the light of day while some do and end up changing the world.

Every day, we encounter products of these great ideas. For example, when you ride someone’s car, do you dwell on what helps to run it well? One of them is motor oil, which keeps vehicles’ engines running and protected against wear and corrosion and other factors that could hamper our vehicle’s performance and safety.

One product that comes to mind is Valvoline, which is celebrating its 150th year in the petroleum industry. It was Dr. John Ellis, sparked with a great idea, who discovered the lubricating properties of distilled crude oil and had it trademarked as Valvoline in 1873.

Dr. John Ellis, founder 
of Valvoline
In the Visayas and Mindanao, Valvoline is exclusively distributed by F&E Group. Just recently, F&E Group shared the following information about Valvoline’s successes in the last 150 years and I was quite awed by the fact that this product has helped the allied forces during World War II. Here they are:

* 1895: The Valvoline lubricated, two-cylinder, one-and-three-quarter horsepower car won first place in the first-ever car race organized in North America and held in Chicago, Illinois. Today, team Valvoline™ races in numerous high-performance series worldwide.


* 1939: Valvoline developed X-18, the first all-purpose gear oil, an innovation that reduced mechanic shop product inventory and exceeded manufacturer specifications of that time.


* 1950: In 1950, Valvoline developed its All-Climate™ Motor Oil – eliminating the need for seasonal oil changes.

* 1965: Valvoline introduced Valvoline™ Racing Motor Oil to the world in the mid 1960s. It protects engines in high-stress situations and met the needs of the "muscle car craze" of the era. Used in multiple forms of racing, Valvoline racing oil became, and remains to this day, the best-selling racing oil of all time.

The Valvoline lubricated car won in the first car race organized in North America 


* 1990s: In 1996, introduced Durablend™, its first synthetic blend motor oil. This development brought the many benefits of synthetic to a broader consumer base and pioneered protection for the smaller, high-RPM engines of the day.



* 2016: Valvoline is celebrating its 150th anniversary stateside and across the globe. Additionally, Valvoline Instant Oil Change centers are expected to perform their 200 millionth oil change during the year.

Valvoline Products. From left: motor oils, gear oils and greases, transmission fluids, antifreeze products to keep your vehicle running in extreme temperatures, premium racing oils and lubricants that were proven on tracks throughout the world, heavy duty motor oils that help improve fuel economy and reduce operating costs, and heavy duty grease for a wide range of on- and off-highway heavy duty applications.


Filamie S. Aguillon, CEO and General Manager of F&E said, “Our role as a local partner of these trusted global brands goes beyond just selling them. We become our customer’s partners for a safe and joyful journey.”

Do you have a great idea that should be pursued? May Valvoline’s story inspire you because you too, can help shape the world and may you have the power to innovate, innovate and innovate just like Valvoline did.

View the Valvoline 150 Years Under the Hood video
View the Valvoline 150th year celebration in Iloilo F&E photos

* * *
For information about Valvoline and F&E’s automotive products, services and solutions
Contact +63 33 336 0000
Like the Facebook page F&E Autostore

Check out these popular posts, too

Hip-hop dancer turned entrepreneur helps people get jobs

Guimaras: the island that fits your taste

Balay Binhi: raising kind and creative individuals

The San Lorenzo Wind Farm and a brighter future for renewable energy

10 must-eats at DoVa Brunch Cafe

SM City Iloilo launches solar panels

Sino ang panalo? Ang bully or ang api?

Amid poverty, these Ilonggo moms raised successful children

Ilonggos fulfill poor students’ dreams to finish college

Why stay at The B Lifestyle Complex in Iloilo