CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	$ 74	$ 95	$ 135	$ 131
Translation of foreign currency statements	(24)	(42)	(50)	(17)
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits, net of tax	6	5	10	8
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(18)	(37)	(40)	(9)
Comprehensive Income	56	58	95	122
Cumulative Translation Adjustment
Balance April 1	(45)	(1)	(19)	(26)
Translation of foreign currency statements	(24)	(42)	(50)	(17)
Balance June 30	(69)	(43)	(69)	(43)
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits
Balance April 1	(380)	(349)	(384)	(352)
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits, net of tax	6	5	10	8
Balance June 30	(374)	(344)	(374)	(344)
Balance June 30	(443)	(387)	(443)	(387)
Tenneco Inc.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	63	87	117	117
Translation of foreign currency statements	(24)	(43)	(50)	(17)
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits, net of tax	6	5	10	8
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(18)	(38)	(40)	(9)
Comprehensive Income	45	49	77	108
Cumulative Translation Adjustment
Balance April 1	(50)	(4)	(24)	(30)
Translation of foreign currency statements	(24)	(43)	(50)	(17)
Balance June 30	(74)	(47)	(74)	(47)
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits
Balance April 1	(380)	(349)	(384)	(352)
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits, net of tax	6	5	10	8
Balance June 30	(374)	(344)	(374)	(344)
Balance June 30	(448)	(391)	(448)	(391)
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	11	8	18	14
Translation of foreign currency statements	0	1	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	0	1	0	0
Comprehensive Income	11	9	18	14
Cumulative Translation Adjustment
Balance April 1	5	3	5	4
Translation of foreign currency statements	0	1	0	0
Balance June 30	5	4	5	4
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits
Balance April 1	0	0	0	0
Balance June 30	0	0	0	0
Balance June 30	$ 5	$ 4	$ 5	$ 4