Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 282	[1]	$ 275	[1]	$ 223	[1]	$ 214
Restricted cash	3		5
Receivables, net	1,088		1,060
Inventories	688		656
Deferred income taxes	81		71
Prepayments and other	284		223
Total current assets	2,426		2,290
Other assets:
Long-term receivables, net	12		14
Goodwill	65		69
Intangibles, net	26		30
Deferred income taxes	143		125
Other	120		127
Total other assets	366		365
Plant, property, and equipment, at cost	3,490		3,498
Less — Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,272)		(2,323)
Plant, property and equipment, net	1,218		1,175
Total Assets	4,010		3,830		3,608
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt — non-affiliated	60		83
Accounts payable	1,372		1,359
Accrued taxes	40		40
Other	327		356
Total current liabilities	1,799		1,838
Long-term debt — non-affiliated	1,069		1,019
Deferred income taxes	18		28
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	551		453
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	3,437		3,338
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	35		20
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	497		433
Noncontrolling interests	41		39
Total equity	538		472		291
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	4,010		3,830
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	10		6		4		1
Receivables, net	408		387
Inventories	312		279
Deferred income taxes	49		87
Prepayments and other	96		35
Total current assets	875		794
Other assets:
Investment in affiliated companies	1,064		944
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	944		1,026
Long-term receivables, net	12		12
Goodwill	22		22
Intangibles, net	10		13
Deferred income taxes	76		72
Other	40		44
Total other assets	2,168		2,133
Plant, property, and equipment, at cost	1,236		1,173
Less — Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(845)		(807)
Plant, property and equipment, net	391		366
Total Assets	3,434		3,293
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt — affiliated	243		247
Accounts payable	478		521
Accrued taxes	(15)		9
Other	134		128
Total current liabilities	840		905
Long-term debt — affiliated	1,730		1,700
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	418		357
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	2,988		2,962
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	446		331
Total equity	446		331
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	3,434		3,293
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	272		269		219		213
Restricted cash	3		5
Receivables, net	1,309		1,306
Inventories	376		377
Deferred income taxes	25		0
Prepayments and other	188		188
Total current assets	2,173		2,145
Other assets:
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	10,589		7,320
Long-term receivables, net	0		2
Goodwill	43		47
Intangibles, net	16		17
Deferred income taxes	14		9
Other	53		60
Total other assets	10,715		7,455
Plant, property, and equipment, at cost	2,254		2,325
Less — Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,427)		(1,516)
Plant, property and equipment, net	827		809
Total Assets	13,715		10,409
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt — non-affiliated	54		68
Short-term debt — affiliated	220		176
Accounts payable	1,000		1,011
Accrued taxes	31		31
Other	241		285
Total current liabilities	1,546		1,571
Long-term debt — non-affiliated	44		8
Long-term debt — affiliated	10,516		7,338
Deferred income taxes	18		28
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	129		92
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	12,253		9,037
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	35		20
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,386		1,313
Noncontrolling interests	41		39
Total equity	1,427		1,352
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	13,715		10,409
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company)
Current assets:
Receivables, net	0		16
Deferred income taxes	7		7
Total current assets	7		23
Other assets:
Investment in affiliated companies	764		696
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	4,844		4,826
Deferred income taxes	53		44
Other	27		23
Total other assets	5,688		5,589
Total Assets	5,695		5,612
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt — non-affiliated	6		15
Short-term debt — affiliated	9		10
Accrued taxes	24
Other	3		9
Total current liabilities	42		34
Long-term debt — non-affiliated	1,025		1,011
Long-term debt — affiliated	4,131		4,134
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	5,198		5,179
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	497		433
Total equity	497		433
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	5,695		5,612
Reclass & Elims
Current assets:
Receivables, net	(629)		(649)
Deferred income taxes	0		(23)
Total current assets	(629)		(672)
Other assets:
Investment in affiliated companies	(1,828)		(1,640)
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	(16,377)		(13,172)
Total other assets	(18,205)		(14,812)
Total Assets	(18,834)		(15,484)
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt — affiliated	(472)		(433)
Accounts payable	(106)		(173)
Other	(51)		(66)
Total current liabilities	(629)		(672)
Long-term debt — affiliated	(16,377)		(13,172)
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	4		4
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	(17,002)		(13,840)
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	(1,832)		(1,644)
Total equity	(1,832)		(1,644)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	$ (18,834)		$ (15,484)

[1] Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase.