Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Revenues
Net sales and operating revenues - External	$ 1,888	$ 1,502	$ 3,648	$ 2,818
Net sales and operating revenues	1,888	1,502	3,648	2,818
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	1,565	1,222	3,031	2,295
Engineering, research, and development	35	33	70	60
Selling, general, and administrative	118	98	227	198
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles	54	53	105	108
Total costs and expenses	1,772	1,406	3,433	2,661
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables	(2)	(1)	(3)	(2)
Other income (loss)	(1)	(2)	(5)	(3)
Total other income (expense)	(3)	(3)	(8)	(5)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, and equity in net income from affiliated companies	113	93	207	152
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)	26	32	54	64
Income tax expense	30	15	44	30
Net income	57	46	109	58
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	7	6	12	11
Net Income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	50	40	97	47
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues
Net sales and operating revenues - External	797	677	1,570	1,220
Affiliated companies	40	31	81	62
Net sales and operating revenues	837	708	1,651	1,282
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	721	533	1,445	1,052
Engineering, research, and development	13	17	28	26
Selling, general, and administrative	39	36	72	73
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles	19	21	37	43
Total costs and expenses	792	607	1,582	1,194
Other income (expense)
Other income (loss)	33	9	32	9
Total other income (expense)	33	9	32	9
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, and equity in net income from affiliated companies	78	110	101	97
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)		(1)		(1)
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)	53	50	102	87
Income tax expense	4	3	5	4
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies	53	(8)	118	47
Net income	74	50	112	54
Net Income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	74	50	112	54
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues
Net sales and operating revenues - External	1,091	825	2,078	1,598
Affiliated companies	126	126	257	235
Net sales and operating revenues	1,217	951	2,335	1,833
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	1,010	846	1,924	1,540
Engineering, research, and development	22	16	42	34
Selling, general, and administrative	79	60	154	123
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles	35	32	68	65
Total costs and expenses	1,146	954	2,188	1,762
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables	(2)	(1)	(3)	(2)
Other income (loss)	1	3	(2)	2
Total other income (expense)	(1)	2	(5)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, and equity in net income from affiliated companies	70	(1)	142	71
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)	1	3	2	4
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)	(19)	(18)	(34)	(23)
Income tax expense	26	12	39	26
Net income	62	2	135	64
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	7	6	12	11
Net Income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	55	(4)	123	53
Parent Company [Member]
Costs and expenses
Selling, general, and administrative		2	1	2
Total costs and expenses		2	1	2
Other income (expense)
Other income (loss)		1		1
Total other income (expense)		1		1
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, and equity in net income from affiliated companies		(1)	(1)	(1)
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)	25	30	52	61
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)	(34)	(32)	(68)	(64)
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies	41	39	82	45
Net income	50	40	97	47
Net Income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	50	40	97	47
Reclass & Elims [Member]
Revenues
Affiliated companies	(166)	(157)	(338)	(297)
Net sales and operating revenues	(166)	(157)	(338)	(297)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	(166)	(157)	(338)	(297)
Total costs and expenses	(166)	(157)	(338)	(297)
Other income (expense)
Other income (loss)	(35)	(15)	(35)	(15)
Total other income (expense)	(35)	(15)	(35)	(15)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, and equity in net income from affiliated companies	(35)	(15)	(35)	(15)
Interest expense -
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies	(94)	(31)	(200)	(92)
Net income	(129)	(46)	(235)	(107)
Net Income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ (129)	$ (46)	$ (235)	$ (107)