Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	$ 341		$ 503		$ 365
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets	3		8		3
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	(328)		(244)		(256)
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	(13)		(25)		(13)
Payments To Acquire Assets Net Of Cash Acquired	(3)		0		(7)
Changes in restricted cash	2		(5)		0
Net cash used by investing activities	(339)		(266)		(273)
Financing Activities
Retirement of long-term debt	(462)		(16)		(411)
Issuance of long-term debt	(570)		0		(250)
Debt issuance cost on long-term debt	(12)		0		(13)
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	26		24		0
Purchase of common stock under the share repurchase program	(22)		(27)		(18)
Issuance of common stock	19		20		5
Increase in bank overdrafts	6		(6)		5
Net increase/decrease in revolver borrowings and short-term debt excluding current maturities of long-term debt	(70)		(22)		67
Net increase in short-term borrowings secured by accounts receivable	(10)		(40)		50
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest partner	5		0		5
Purchase of noncontrolling equity interest	0		(69)		0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest partners	(30)		(39)		(29)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	20		(175)		(89)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(15)		(10)		6
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	7		52		9
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	275	[1]	223	[1]	214
Cash and cash equivalents, December 31 (Note)	282	[1]	275	[1]	223	[1]
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	44		270		385
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets	0		1		0
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	(106)		(102)		(101)
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	(5)		(19)		(6)
Payments To Acquire Assets Net Of Cash Acquired	3				(7)
Net cash used by investing activities	(114)		(120)		(114)
Financing Activities
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	74		(148)		(268)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	74		(148)		(268)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	4		2		3
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	6		4		1
Cash and cash equivalents, December 31 (Note)	10		6		4
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	314		244		253
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets	3		7		3
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	(222)		(142)		(155)
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	(8)		(6)		(7)
Payments To Acquire Assets Net Of Cash Acquired					0
Changes in restricted cash	2		(5)
Net cash used by investing activities	(225)		(146)		(159)
Financing Activities
Retirement of long-term debt	(9)		(2)		(1)
Issuance of long-term debt	45				0
Increase in bank overdrafts	6		(6)		5
Net increase/decrease in revolver borrowings and short-term debt excluding current maturities of long-term debt	(13)		(43)		48
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	(75)		121		(122)
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest partner	5				5
Purchase of noncontrolling equity interest			(69)		0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest partners	(30)		(39)		(29)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(71)		(38)		(94)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(15)		(10)		6
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	3		50		6
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	269		219		213
Cash and cash equivalents, December 31 (Note)	272		269		219
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company)
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	21		48		(226)
Financing Activities
Retirement of long-term debt	(453)		(14)		(410)
Issuance of long-term debt	(525)				(250)
Debt issuance cost on long-term debt	(12)				(13)
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	26		24
Purchase of common stock under the share repurchase program	(22)		(27)		(18)
Issuance of common stock	19		20		5
Net increase/decrease in revolver borrowings and short-term debt excluding current maturities of long-term debt	(57)		21		19
Net increase in short-term borrowings secured by accounts receivable	(10)		(40)		50
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	(37)		(32)		343
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(21)		(48)		226
Reclass & Elims
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(38)		(59)		(47)
Financing Activities
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	38		59		47
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	$ 38		$ 59		$ 47

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