Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues
Net sales and operating revenues	$ 7,205	$ 5,937	$ 4,649
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	6,037	4,900	3,875
Goodwill impairment charge	11
Engineering, research, and development	133	117	97
Selling, general, and administrative	428	417	344
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles	207	216	221
Total costs and expenses	6,816	5,650	4,537
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables	(5)	(3)	(9)
Other income (expense)	(5)	(3)	(11)
Total other income (expense)	(10)	(6)	(20)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests	379	281	92
Interest expense (net of interest capitalized of $4 million in each of 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively)	108	149	133
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	271	132	(41)
Income tax expense	88	69	13
Net income (loss)	183	63	(54)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	26	24	19
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 157	$ 39	$ (73)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding -
Basic	59,884,139	59,208,103	48,572,463
Diluted	61,520,160	60,998,694	48,572,463
Basic earnings (loss) per share of common stock	$ 2.62	$ 0.65	$ (1.50)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share of common stock	$ 2.55	$ 0.63	$ (1.50)