Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenues
Net sales and operating revenues - External	$ 1,773	$ 1,542	$ 5,421	$ 4,360
Net sales and operating revenues	1,773	1,542	5,421	4,360
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	1,492	1,280	4,523	3,575
Goodwill impairment charge	11	0	11	0
Engineering, research, and development	32	30	102	90
Selling, general, and administrative	101	109	328	307
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles	51	55	156	163
Total costs and expenses	1,687	1,474	5,120	4,135
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables	(1)	(1)	(4)	(3)
Other income (expense)	(1)		(6)	(3)
Total other income (expense)	(2)	(1)	(10)	(6)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, and equity in net income from affiliated companies	84	67	291	219
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)	27	36	81	100
Income tax expense	21	15	65	45
Net income (loss)	36	16	145	74
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	6	6	18	17
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	30	10	127	57
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues
Net sales and operating revenues - External	761	699	2,331	1,919
Affiliated companies	40	33	121	95
Net sales and operating revenues	801	732	2,452	2,014
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	568	655	2,013	1,707
Engineering, research, and development	14	14	42	40
Selling, general, and administrative	34	42	106	115
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles	18	23	55	66
Total costs and expenses	634	734	2,216	1,928
Other income (expense)
Other income (expense)	(3)	5	29	14
Total other income (expense)	(3)	5	29	14
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, and equity in net income from affiliated companies	164	3	265	100
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)				(1)
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)	54	49	156	136
Income tax expense	3	1	8	5
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies	(89)	57	29	104
Net income (loss)	18	10	130	64
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	18	10	130	64
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues
Net sales and operating revenues - External	1,012	843	3,090	2,441
Affiliated companies	126	125	383	360
Net sales and operating revenues	1,138	968	3,473	2,801
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	1,090	783	3,014	2,323
Goodwill impairment charge	11		11
Engineering, research, and development	18	16	60	50
Selling, general, and administrative	65	66	219	189
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles	33	32	101	97
Total costs and expenses	1,217	897	3,405	2,659
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables	(1)	(1)	(4)	(3)
Other income (expense)	2	(4)		(2)
Total other income (expense)	1	(5)	(4)	(5)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, and equity in net income from affiliated companies	(78)	66	64	137
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)	2	2	4	6
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)	(18)	(17)	(52)	(40)
Income tax expense	18	14	57	40
Net income (loss)	(80)	67	55	131
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	6	6	18	17
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	(86)	61	37	114
Parent Company [Member]
Costs and expenses
Selling, general, and administrative	2	1	3	3
Total costs and expenses	2	1	3	3
Other income (expense)
Other income (expense)				1
Total other income (expense)				1
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, and equity in net income from affiliated companies	(2)	(1)	(3)	(2)
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)	25	34	77	95
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)	(36)	(32)	(104)	(96)
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies	21	13	103	58
Net income (loss)	30	10	127	57
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	30	10	127	57
Reclass & Elims [Member]
Revenues
Affiliated companies	(166)	(158)	(504)	(455)
Net sales and operating revenues	(166)	(158)	(504)	(455)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	(166)	(158)	(504)	(455)
Total costs and expenses	(166)	(158)	(504)	(455)
Other income (expense)
Other income (expense)		(1)	(35)	(16)
Total other income (expense)		(1)	(35)	(16)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, and equity in net income from affiliated companies		(1)	(35)	(16)
Interest expense -
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies	68	(70)	(132)	(162)
Net income (loss)	68	(71)	(167)	(178)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 68	$ (71)	$ (167)	$ (178)