Statement of Comprehensive Income Loss (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net sales and operating revenues —
External									$ 8,420	$ 7,964	$ 7,363
Net sales and operating revenues	2,004	2,081	2,241	2,094	2,031	1,963	2,067	1,903	8,420	7,964	7,363
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	1,685	1,735	1,851	1,754	1,703	1,691	1,736	1,604	7,025	6,734	6,170
Goodwill impairment charge									0	0	0
Engineering, research, and development									169	144	126
Selling, general, and administrative									519	453	427
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles									208	205	205
Costs and expenses									7,921	7,536	6,928
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables									(4)	(4)	(4)
Other income (expense)									(3)	0	(3)
Total other income (expense)									(7)	(4)	(7)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests	83	140	156	113	118	72	141	93	492	424	428
Interest expense —
External (net of interest capitalized)									91	80	105
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies									401	344	323
Income tax expense									131	122	19
Net income									270	222	304
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									44	39	29
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	21	78	81	46	54	12	63	54	226	183	275
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									41	231	249
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Net sales and operating revenues —
External									3,727	3,498	3,331
Affiliated companies									403	350	182
Net sales and operating revenues									4,130	3,848	3,513
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)									3,391	3,103	3,056
Engineering, research, and development									81	66	57
Selling, general, and administrative									211	187	198
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles									86	78	72
Costs and expenses									3,769	3,434	3,383
Other income (expense)
Other income (expense)									26	(1)	115
Total other income (expense)									26	(1)	115
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests									387	413	245
Interest expense —
External (net of interest capitalized)									(1)	(2)	0
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)									73	70	212
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies									315	345	33
Income tax expense									94	60	(39)
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies									129	32	217
Net income									350	317	289
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									350	317	289
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									350	317	289
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Net sales and operating revenues —
External									4,693	4,466	4,032
Affiliated companies									602	572	547
Net sales and operating revenues									5,295	5,038	4,579
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)									4,639	4,553	3,843
Goodwill impairment charge									0	0	0
Engineering, research, and development									88	78	69
Selling, general, and administrative									302	260	224
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles									122	127	133
Costs and expenses									5,151	5,018	4,269
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables									(4)	(4)	(4)
Other income (expense)									9	59	(71)
Total other income (expense)									5	55	(75)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests									149	75	235
Interest expense —
External (net of interest capitalized)									4	5	5
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)									(75)	(72)	(81)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies									220	142	311
Income tax expense									37	62	58
Net income									183	80	253
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									44	39	29
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									139	41	224
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									139	41	224
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company)
Costs and expenses
Engineering, research, and development									0
Selling, general, and administrative									6	6	5
Costs and expenses									6	6	5
Other income (expense)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests									(6)	(6)	(5)
Interest expense —
External (net of interest capitalized)									88	77	100
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)									2	2	(131)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies									(96)	(85)	26
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies									322	268	249
Net income									226	183	275
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									226	183	275
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									41		249
Reclass & Elims
Net sales and operating revenues —
Affiliated companies									(1,005)	(922)	(729)
Net sales and operating revenues									(1,005)	(922)	(729)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)									(1,005)	(922)	(729)
Costs and expenses									(1,005)	(922)	(729)
Other income (expense)
Other income (expense)									(38)	(58)	(47)
Total other income (expense)									(38)	(58)	(47)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests									(38)	(58)	(47)
Interest expense —
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies									(38)	(58)	(47)
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies									(451)	(300)	(466)
Net income									(489)	(358)	(513)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									(489)	(358)	(513)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									$ (489)	$ 358	$ (513)