<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                            VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION



                              OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE

         This Officers' Certificate is being executed and delivered (a) pursuant
to Sections 102, 301 and 303 of the Indenture dated as of December 12, 1997 (the
"Indenture") by and between Valero Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"), and (b)
in connection with the order dated April 15, 2002 by the Company to the Trustee
(the "Order") for the authentication and delivery by the Trustee of $300,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the Company's 6 1/8% Notes due 2007, $750,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the Company's 6 7/8% Notes due 2012 and
$750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 7 1/2% Notes due 2032
(collectively, the "Notes"). The undersigned hereby certify that they are the
duly elected or appointed and acting Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer and the duly elected or appointed and acting Vice President
and Secretary of the Company, respectively, and further certify that:

                  1. As of April 10, 2002, the terms of the Notes (including the
         form of the Notes) set forth in Annex A hereto were established by the
         Special Committee designated by the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  2. The undersigned have read Sections 102, 301 and 303 of the
         Indenture and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto.

                  3. The statements made herein are based either upon the
         personal knowledge of the persons making this Certificate or on
         information, data and reports furnished to such persons by the
         officers, counsel, department heads or employees of the Company who
         have knowledge of the facts involved.

                  4. The undersigned have examined the Order, and they have
         examined the covenants, conditions and provisions of the Indenture
         relating thereto.

                  5. In the opinion of the undersigned, they have made such
         examination or investigation as is necessary to enable them to express
         an informed opinion as to whether or not all conditions provided for in
         the Indenture with respect to the authentication of the Notes have been
         complied with.

                  6. In the opinion of the undersigned, all conditions precedent
         provided in the Indenture to the authentication by the Trustee of the
         Notes have been complied with.



<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Certificate as
of this 15th day of April, 2002.

                                        /s/ JOHN D. GIBBONS
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        John D. Gibbons
                                        Executive Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer

                                        /s/ JAY D. BROWNING
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Jay D. Browning
                                        Vice President and Secretary




<PAGE>

                                     ANNEX A

                            VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION

                              6 1/8% Notes due 2007
                              6 7/8% Notes due 2012
                              7 1/2% Notes due 2032

         Three series of Securities are hereby established pursuant to Section
301 of the Indenture dated as of December 12, 1997 (the "Indenture"), between
Valero Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Bank
of New York, as Trustee (in such capacity, the "Trustee"), as follows
(capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
to them in the Indenture, and all references herein to a Section shall refer to
the corresponding Section in the Indenture):

1. The title of the 6 1/8% Notes due 2007 shall be "6 1/8% Notes due 2007" (the
"2007 Notes"), the title of the 6 7/8% Notes due 2012 shall be "6 7/8% Notes due
2012" (the "2012 Notes") and the title of the 7 1/2% Notes due 2032 shall be
"7 1/2% Notes due 2032" (the "2032 Notes" and together with the 2007 Notes and
the 2012 Notes, the "Notes").

2. The initial limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the 2007 Notes that
may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for 2007 Notes
authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange
for, or in lieu of, other 2007 Notes pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or
1207) is $300,000,000.

3. The initial limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the 2012 Notes that
may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for 2012 Notes
authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange
for, or in lieu of, other 2012 Notes pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or
1207) is $750,000,000.

4. The initial limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the 2032 Notes that
may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for 2032 Notes
authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange
for, or in lieu of, other 2032 Notes pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or
1207) is $750,000,000.

5. Each series of Notes shall be initially issued as Registered Securities in
the form of one or more global securities under the Indenture. The Depository
Trust Company is hereby designated as the Depository for these global Securities
under the Indenture.

         As long as any Note is in global form, then, notwithstanding clause
(11) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such global Note
shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and
may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes
from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding
Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges.
Any endorsement of a global Note to reflect the amount, or any increase or
decrease in the amount, of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made
by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or
Persons as shall be specified in such Note or in a Company Order to be delivered
to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303. Subject to the provisions



                                      A-1
<PAGE>

of Section 303 and, if applicable Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and
redeliver any Note in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions
given by the Person or Persons specified in such Note or in the applicable
Company Order. With respect to the Notes of any series that are represented by a
global Note, the Company authorizes the execution and delivery by the Trustee of
a letter of representations or other similar agreement or instrument in the form
customarily provided for by the Depository appointed with respect to such global
Note. Any global Note may be deposited with the Depository or its nominee, or
may remain in the custody of the Trustee pursuant to a FAST Balance Certificate
Agreement or similar agreement between the Trustee and the Depository. If a
Company Order has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the
Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Note in
global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 and need
not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

         Members of, or participants in, the Depository ("Agent Members") shall
have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any global Note held on their
behalf by the Depository, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under such global
Note and the Depository may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent
of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such global Note for all
purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the registered holder of
a global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including
Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through an Agent Member, to
take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under the Indenture or the
Notes and (ii) nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any
agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written
certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or shall
impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of
customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a beneficial owner
of any Note.

         Notwithstanding Section 305, and except as otherwise provided pursuant
to Section 301, transfers of a global Note shall be limited to transfers of such
global Note in whole but not in part, to the Depository, its successors or their
respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in a global Note may be
transferred in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depository. In
all other respects, Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in
exchange for their beneficial interest in a Global Security solely as expressly
provided in Section 305.

         In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interest
in a global Note to beneficial owners pursuant hereto and Section 305, the
Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a
decrease in the principal amount of the global Note of the applicable series in
an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the global
Note to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee upon
receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Notes shall
authenticate and deliver, one or more Notes of like tenor and amount.

         In connection with the transfer of an entire global Note to beneficial
owners pursuant hereto and Section 305, the global Security shall be deemed to
be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute,
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner
identified by the Depository in exchange for its beneficial interest in the
global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Notes of the applicable
series of authorized denominations.



                                      A-2
<PAGE>

         Neither the Company nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account
of, Notes by the Depository, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records of the Depository relating to such Notes. Neither the Company nor the
Trustee shall be liable for any delay by the related global Note Holder or the
Depository in identifying the beneficial owners, and each such Person may
conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, instructions from
such global Note Holder or the Depository for all purposes (including with
respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts,
of the Notes to be issued).

         Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 201 and 307, unless
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of,
premium (if any) or interest on any global Note shall be made to the Person or
Persons specified in such global Note.

6. The dates on which the principal of the 2007 Notes, the 2012 Notes and the
2032 Notes are payable shall be April 15, 2007, April 15, 2012 and April 15,
2032, respectively.

7. The rate at which the 2007 Notes shall bear interest shall be 6 1/8% per
annum, the rate at which the 2012 Notes shall bear interest shall be 6 7/8% per
annum and the rate at which the 2032 Notes shall bear interest shall be 7 1/2%
per annum. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months. The date from which interest shall accrue for the Notes shall be
April 15, 2002. The Interest Payment Dates on which interest on the Notes shall
be payable are April 15 and October 15, commencing October 15, 2002. Interest on
the Notes shall be payable to the persons in whose name the Notes are registered
at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest payment,
except in the case of default interest, which will be payable as provided in the
Indenture. The Regular Record Date for the interest payable on the Notes on any
Interest Payment Date shall be the March 31 and September 30, as the case may
be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. No Additional Amounts
shall be payable with respect to the Notes.

8. The place or places where the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on
the Notes shall be payable is at the office or agency of the Trustee in New
York, New York or such other offices or agencies maintained for such purpose as
the Company may from time to time and in accordance with the Indenture
designate. If appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received by the
Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office or at its corporate trust facility in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, not later than 5 Business Days prior
to the record date for an applicable Interest Payment Date, then payments in
respect of the Notes evidenced by a global Security (including principal,
premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder of such global Note. In
all other cases, payment of interest on the Notes may be made at the option of
the Company by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as
such address shall appear in the Security Register.

9. Each series of Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option
of the Company at any time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i)
100% of the principal amount of the applicable series of Notes, and (ii) the sum
of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued
as of the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption



                                      A-3
<PAGE>

on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 25 basis points
with respect to the 2007 Notes, 30 basis points with respect to the 2012 Notes
and 35 basis points with respect to the 2032 Notes, as calculated by an
Independent Investment Banker plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest
thereon to the date of redemption.

         "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any date of redemption,
         (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the
         immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published
         statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or any successor publication
         which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal
         Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United
         States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the
         caption "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity corresponding
         to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months
         before or after the remaining life, yields for the two published
         maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue
         shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be
         interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis,
         rounding to the nearest month); or (ii) if such release (or any
         successor release) is not published during the week preceding the
         calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum
         equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable
         Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury
         Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
         Comparable Treasury Price for such date of redemption. The Adjusted
         Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding
         the date of redemption.

         "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
         selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity
         comparable to the remaining term of the series of Notes to be redeemed
         that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with
         customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt
         securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any date of
         redemption, (i) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer
         Quotations for such date of redemption, after excluding the highest and
         lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the
         Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference
         Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury
         Dealer Quotations.

         "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the Reference Treasury
         Dealers appointed by the Company to act as the independent investment
         banker from time to time.

         "Reference Treasury Dealers" means (i) Morgan Stanley & Co.
         Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their respective
         successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease
         to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a
         "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall



                                      A-4
<PAGE>

         substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (ii) any other
         Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
         Reference Treasury Dealer and any date of redemption, the average, as
         determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked
         prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a
         percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the
         Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00
         p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such date
         of redemption.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60
days before the date of redemption to each Holder of the applicable series of
Notes to be redeemed. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption
price, on and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the
Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

10. The Notes shall not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund, any
optional repurchase or redemption right in favor of any holder thereof or other
mandatory repurchase or redemption provisions.

11. The Notes shall be in substantially the form of Attachment A hereto (the
"Form of Note").

12. Each Note that is a global Security shall bear the legend set forth on the
face of the Form of Note.






                                      A-5
<PAGE>

                           ATTACHMENT A - FORM OF NOTE


                  THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE
INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY
OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITORY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY
IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS
SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO
A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY
OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES.

                  UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"),
TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT,
AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER
NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS
MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

                            VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION

                               ___% NOTES DUE 20__

No. [     ]
REGISTERED                                             CUSIP No. [             ]

                  VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company," which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to Cede & Co. or
registered assigns, the principal sum of [______________] Dollars or such lesser
amount as indicated on the schedule of exchanges of definitive Securities, on
_______, 20__.

                Interest Payment Dates: _______ and ____________

                   Regular Record Dates: ______ and __________

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth in
  the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the
                   same effect as if set forth at this place.




                                      AA-1
<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Security to be
signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers and its
corporate seal or a facsimile thereof to be affixed hereto or imprinted hereon.

         Dated: ______, 200_

[SEAL]                              VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION

                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       John D. Gibbons, Executive Vice President
                                       and Chief Financial Officer

ATTEST:

By:
   ---------------------------------------------
   Jay D. Browning, Vice President and Secretary


                    TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:

         This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
         to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated: ______, 200_

                                    THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                 Authorized Signatory






                                      AA-2
<PAGE>

                              [REVERSE OF SECURITY]

                            VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION

                               ___% NOTES DUE 20__

                  This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of debentures,
notes or other evidences of indebtedness of VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), issued under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to and is one of a series of such debentures, notes or other evidences
of indebtedness designated pursuant thereto as ___% Notes due 20__ (the
"Securities") of the Company.

         1. Interest. The Company promises to pay interest on the principal
amount of this Security at ___% per annum from ______, 200_ until Maturity of
the Securities. The Company will pay interest semiannually on _______ and
_______ of each year (each an "Interest Payment Date") and on the Maturity of
the Securities, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding
Business Day. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent
Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or, if no interest has
been paid, from ______, 200_; provided that if there is no existing Default in
the payment of, or provisions for, interest, and if this Security is
authenticated between a Regular Record Date referred to on the face hereof
(whether or not a Business Day) and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date,
interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided,
further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be __________, 200_. The
interest so payable, and punctually paid or provided for, on any Interest
Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose
name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the
close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest as set forth on
the face hereof, provided, however, that interest payable at Maturity of this
Security will be payable to the Person to whom the principal hereof shall be
payable. Any such interest which is so payable, but is not punctually paid or
duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date, shall forthwith cease to be
payable to the registered Holder on such Regular Record Date, and may be paid as
more fully provided in the Indenture. Interest will be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

         2. Method of payment. Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the
Company maintained for that purpose at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or at such other offices or
agencies maintained for such purpose as the Company may from time to time and in
accordance with the Indenture designate, in such coin or currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts; provided, however, that (i) payment of interest may,
at the option of the Company, be made (subject to collection) by check mailed to
the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the
Security Register or, with respect to Securities evidenced by a global Security,
if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the
Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office or at its corporate trust facility in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, not later than 5 Business Days prior
to the record date for an applicable Interest Payment Date, be made by wire
transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with such wire transfer
instructions; and (ii) payment of available funds upon



                                      AA-3
<PAGE>

surrender of this Security will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee or at the corporate trust facility of the Trustee located in the Borough
of Manhattan, The City of New York, or at such additional offices or agencies
maintained for such purpose as the Company may from time to time and in
accordance with the Indenture designate.

         3. Certain Office. Initially, The Bank of New York, the Trustee under
the Indenture (in such capacity, the "Trustee"), will, at its Corporate Trust
Office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, act as the Company's
office or agency where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for
payment, where the Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or
exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the
Securities and the Indenture may be served.

         4. Indenture. The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture
dated as of December 12, 1997 (the "Indenture") between the Company and the
Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture
(including terms defined therein, which terms when used herein, unless the
context requires otherwise, shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in
the Indenture) and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) (the
"TIA"), as in effect on the date of execution of the Indenture. The Securities
are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the
TIA for a statement of such terms. The Securities are unsecured general
obligations of the Company initially limited to $___________ in aggregate
principal amount and will rank on a parity with all other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The Indenture provides for the
issuance of other series of debentures, notes and other evidences of
Indebtedness (including the Securities, the "Debt Securities") thereunder.

         5. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Securities are in registered
form without coupons and, if not in global form, in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Securities may be registered and
Securities may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Security Registrar
and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate
endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by
law or permitted by the Indenture. The Security Registrar need not exchange or
register the transfer of any Securities during the period beginning on the
opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption
of the Securities and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing
or of any Securities selected for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of
any Securities being redeemed in part.

         6. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Security shall be
treated as its owner for all purposes.

         7. Redemption. The Securities will be redeemable, in whole or in part,
at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price equal to the
greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Securities, and (ii) the sum
of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued
as of the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption on a
semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months)
at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus [ ] basis points, as
calculated by the



                                      AA-4
<PAGE>

Independent Investment Banker (as defined below) plus, in each case, accrued and
unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

         "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any date of redemption,
         (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the
         immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published
         statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or any successor publication
         which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal
         Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United
         States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the
         caption "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity corresponding
         to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months
         before or after the remaining life, yields for the two published
         maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue
         shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be
         interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis,
         rounding to the nearest month); or (ii) if such release (or any
         successor release) is not published during the week preceding the
         calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum
         equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable
         Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury
         Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
         Comparable Treasury Price for such date of redemption. The Adjusted
         Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding
         the date of redemption.

         "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
         selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity
         comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would
         be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary
         financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities
         of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any date of
         redemption, (i) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer
         Quotations for such date of redemption, after excluding the highest and
         lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the
         Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference
         Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury
         Dealer Quotations.

         "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the Reference Treasury
         Dealers appointed by the Company to act as the independent investment
         banker from time to time.

         "Reference Treasury Dealers" means (i) Morgan Stanley & Co.
         Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their respective
         successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease
         to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a
         "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor
         another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (ii) any other Primary Treasury
         Dealer selected by the Company.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
         Reference Treasury Dealer and any date of redemption, the average, as
         determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked
         prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a
         percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the



                                      AA-5
<PAGE>

         Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00
         p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such date
         of redemption.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60
days before the date of redemption to each Holder of the Securities to be
redeemed. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and
after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or
portions thereof called for redemption.

         8. Amendments and Waivers. Subject to certain exceptions and
limitations, the Indenture or the Securities may be supplemented with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding Securities, and any past default under the Indenture with
respect to the Securities, and its consequences, may be waived (other than a
default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on
the Securities or in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture which
under Article 9 thereof cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
Holder of each outstanding Security) by the Holders of not less than a majority
in principal amount of the outstanding Securities in accordance with the terms
of the Indenture. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company and the Trustee
may supplement the Indenture or the Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity,
omission, defect or inconsistency, in each case which shall not be inconsistent
with the provisions of the Indenture and which shall not adversely affect the
interest of the Holders of the Securities in any material respect; (ii) to
evidence the assumption by a successor Person of the obligations of the Company
under the Indenture and this Security; (iii) to change or eliminate any
restrictions on the payment of principal (or premium, if any) on Registered
Securities, to permit Registered Securities to be exchanged for Bearer
Securities or to permit the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form,
provided any such action shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders
of the Securities in any material respect; (iv) to add to the covenants of the
Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities or Holders of other
series of Debt Securities, or to surrender any right or power conferred by the
Indenture upon the Company; (v) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions,
limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purpose of
issue, authentication and delivery of the Securities as set forth in the
Indenture; or (vi) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
under the Indenture by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities and to
add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture as shall be necessary to
provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts thereunder by more
than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of the Indenture.

                  The right of any Holder to participate in any consent required
or sought pursuant to any provision of the Indenture (and the obligation of the
Company to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such Holder) may be
subject to the requirement that such Holder shall have been the Holder of record
of any Securities with respect to which consent is required or sought as of a
date fixed in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

                  Subject to certain exceptions and limitations set forth in the
Indenture, without the consent of each Holder affected, the Company may not (i)
change the Stated Maturity of the principal of or any installment of interest on
any Security, (ii) reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest
on, any Security, (iii) change any Place of Payment where, or the currency in
which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, (iv) impair
the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment with respect to
any Security after the



                                      AA-6
<PAGE>

Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
applicable Redemption Date), (v) reduce the percentage in principal amount of
the outstanding Securities whose Holders must consent to a supplement or waiver,
or reduce the requirements in Section 1504 of the Indenture for quorum or
voting, or make any change in the percentage of principal amount of Securities
necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or (vi)
waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or
premium (if any) or interest on the Securities.

                  A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any
covenant or other provision of the Indenture which has expressly been included
solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities under
the Indenture, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of
such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed
not to affect the rights under the Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities
of any other series.

         9. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default are defined in the
Indenture and generally include: (i) failure to pay principal of or any premium
on any Security when due and payable; (ii) failure to pay any interest on any
Security when due and payable, and the continuation of the default for 30 days;
(iii) failure to perform any other covenant, or breach of any warranty, of the
Company in the Indenture, continued for 60 days after written notice is given or
received as provided in the Indenture; (iv) certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency, or reorganization; and (v) failure to pay at final maturity (after
the expiration of any applicable grace periods) or upon the declaration of
acceleration of payment of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any
Subsidiary in excess of $25 million, if such indebtedness is not discharged, or
such acceleration is not annulled, within 10 days after written notice. If any
Event of Default at any time outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Securities may declare the principal amount of all Securities to be
due and payable immediately. At any time after a declaration or occurrence of
acceleration with respect to the Securities has been made, but before a judgment
or decree based on acceleration has been obtained, the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may, under certain
circumstances, rescind and annul the acceleration.

                  Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except
as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity reasonably
satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject
to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or
power with respect to the Securities. The Trustee may withhold from Holders
notice of any continuing default (except a default in payment of principal,
premium (if any) or interest) if in good faith it determines that withholding
notice is in their interests. The Company must furnish an annual compliance
certificate to the Trustee.

         10. Discharge Prior to Maturity. The Indenture with respect to the
Securities shall be discharged and canceled upon the payment of all Securities
and, as provided in the Indenture, shall be discharged except for certain
obligations upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee of funds sufficient
for such payment.



                                      AA-7
<PAGE>

         11. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or
any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform
services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the
Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.

         12. Authentication. This Security shall not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signer of the Trustee.

         13. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to the Holders of
the Securities. No representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers
as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed thereon.

         14. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform gifts
to Minors Act).

         15. Restrictions on Transfer. By its acceptance of any Security bearing
a legend restricting transfer, each Holder of a Security acknowledges the
restrictions on transfer of such Security set forth in the officers' certificate
executed pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture in respect of the Securities
and such legend and agrees that it will transfer such Security only as provided
in such officers' certificate and in the Indenture.

                  THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH TO ANY HOLDER UPON WRITTEN REQUEST
AND WITHOUT CHARGE A COPY OF THE INDENTURE. REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO:

                  VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION
                  ONE VALERO PLACE
                  SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78212
                  TELEPHONE: (210) 370-2000
                  ATTENTION: GENERAL COUNSEL




                                      AA-8
<PAGE>

                  SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF DEFINITIVE SECURITY

The following exchanges of a part of this global Security for definitive
Securities have been made:

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                                            Principal Amount of       Signature of
                        Amount of decrease in    Amount of increase in     this global Security    authorized officer
                         Principal Amount of      Principal Amount of         following such          of Trustee or
  Date of Exchange      this global Security      this global Security    decrease (or increase)   Security Registrar
  ----------------      ---------------------    ---------------------    ----------------------   ------------------
<S>                     <C>                     <C>                      <C>                       <C>

</Table>






                                      AA-9
<PAGE>

                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

         To assign this Security, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and
transfer this Security to __________________________ (Insert assignee's social
security or tax I.D. number)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)


and irrevocably appoint ________________________________________________________
as agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may
substitute another to act for him.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Date:                                   Your Signature:
     -----------------                                 -------------------------
                                        (Sign exactly as your name appears on
                                        the face of this Security)


Signature Guarantee:
                    ------------------------------------------------------------
       (Participant in a Recognized Signature Guaranty Medallion Program)



                                     AA-10