Long-Term Debt, Short-Term Debt and Financing Arrangements (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Committed Credit Facilities, Commitments	$ 988
Senior term loans, subsidiary debt outstanding, and Tranche B-1 letter of credit/revolving loan agreement outstanding	245
Committed Credit Facilities, Available	685
Letter of Credit, Senior Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding	58
Tenneco Inc. revolving credit agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Committed Credit Facilities, Term	2014
Committed Credit Facilities, Commitments	622
Secured debt	0
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding	58
Committed Credit Facilities, Available	564
Tenneco Inc. tranche B-1 letter of credit/revolving loan agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Committed Credit Facilities, Term	2014
Committed Credit Facilities, Commitments	130
Secured debt	24
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding	0
Committed Credit Facilities, Available	106
Tenneco Inc. Senior Term Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Committed Credit Facilities, Term	2016
Committed Credit Facilities, Commitments	148
Secured debt	148	149
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding	0
Committed Credit Facilities, Available	0
Subsidiaries' credit agreements [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Committed Credit Facilities, Commitments	88
Unsecured debt	73
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding	0
Committed Credit Facilities, Available	$ 15
Subsidiaries' credit agreements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Committed Credit Facilities, Term	2025
Subsidiaries' credit agreements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Committed Credit Facilities, Term	2012