Summary of the Results of the Company's Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,634.8	$ 1,401.2	$ 3,153.7	$ 2,716.7
Segment operating income	334.6	334.0	665.6	641.0
Corporate expenses	(19.4)	(15.3)	(57.6)	(50.8)
Corporate other income (expense) - net	1.9	7.4	(2.9)	12.7
Berkshire Hathaway merger - related costs	(0.8)		(10.7)
Restructuring and impairment (charges) credits	(0.3)	(0.5)	0.3	(1.4)
Interest expense - net	(22.0)	(23.4)	(45.6)	(46.9)
Income before income taxes	294.0	302.2	549.1	554.6
Lubrizol Additives
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,201.0	1,008.4	2,284.4	1,956.4
Segment operating income	282.4	271.5	542.3	517.9
Lubrizol Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	433.8	392.8	869.3	760.3
Segment operating income	$ 52.2	$ 62.5	$ 123.3	$ 123.1

Corporate Other Income (Expense), Net

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General Corporate Expenses

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This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 59
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6909708&loc=d3e1043-128460

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 5
-Section 03
-Paragraph 10

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The net amount of nonoperating interest income (expense).

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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The aggregate amount provided for estimated restructuring charges, remediation costs, and asset impairment loss during an accounting period. Generally, these items are either unusual or infrequent, but not both (in which case they would be extraordinary items).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)
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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 5
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
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