Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009		Dec. 31, 2008
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 214	[1]	$ 233	[1]	$ 167	[1]	$ 126
Receivables, net	980		826
Inventories	592		547
Deferred income taxes	40		38
Prepayments and other	153		146
Total current assets	1,979		1,790
Other assets:
Long-term receivables, net	10		9
Goodwill	74		89		89
Intangibles, net	32		32
Deferred income taxes	92		92
Other	103		105
Total other assets	311		327
Plant, property, and equipment, at cost	3,153		3,109
Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,106)		(2,059)
Total plant, property, and equipment, net	1,047		1,050
Total assets	3,337		3,167		2,841
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt - non-affiliated	66		63
Trade payables	1,171		1,048
Accrued taxes	44		51
Other	289		306
Total current liabilities	1,570		1,468
Long-term debt - non-affiliated	1,158		1,160
Deferred income taxes	51		56
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	503		436
Commitments and Contingencies
Total liabilities	3,282		3,120
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	12		12		7		7
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders' equity	0		(4)
Noncontrolling interests	43		39
Total equity	43		35		11
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	3,337		3,167
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1		0		20		16
Receivables, net	455		402
Inventories	248		221
Deferred income taxes	35		103
Prepayments and other	21		35
Total current assets	760		761
Other assets:
Investment in affiliated companies	444		391
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	4,252		4,119
Long-term receivables, net	2		1
Goodwill	22		22
Intangibles, net	13		14
Deferred income taxes	64		37
Other	31		26
Total other assets	4,828		4,610
Plant, property, and equipment, at cost	1,041		997
Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(749)		(713)
Total plant, property, and equipment, net	292		284
Total assets	5,880		5,655
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt - affiliated	203	[1]	214
Trade payables	455		367
Accrued taxes	11		20
Other	118		130
Total current liabilities	787		731
Long-term debt - affiliated	4,718		4,583
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	407		347
Commitments and Contingencies
Total liabilities	5,912		5,661
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders' equity	(32)		(6)
Total equity	(32)		(6)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	5,880		5,655
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	213		233		147		110
Receivables, net	1,214		1,106
Inventories	344		326
Deferred income taxes	31
Prepayments and other	132		111
Total current assets	1,934		1,776
Other assets:
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	1,507		788
Long-term receivables, net	8		8
Goodwill	52		67
Intangibles, net	19		18
Deferred income taxes	25		21
Other	45		46
Total other assets	1,656		948
Plant, property, and equipment, at cost	2,112		2,112
Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,357)		(1,346)
Total plant, property, and equipment, net	755		766
Total assets	4,345		3,490
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt - non-affiliated	64		62
Short-term debt - affiliated	374		371
Trade payables	825		773
Accrued taxes	33		31
Other	178		213
Total current liabilities	1,474		1,450
Long-term debt - non-affiliated	9		11
Long-term debt - affiliated	1,546		768
Deferred income taxes	51		56
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	92		85
Commitments and Contingencies
Total liabilities	3,172		2,370
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	12		12
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders' equity	1,118		1,069
Noncontrolling interests	43		39
Total equity	1,161		1,108
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	4,345		3,490
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company) [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0		0
Receivables, net	27		24
Total current assets	27		24
Other assets:
Investment in affiliated companies	681		707
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	6,059		5,853
Deferred income taxes	3		34
Other	27		33
Total other assets	6,770		6,627
Total assets	6,797		6,651
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt - non-affiliated	2		1
Short-term debt - affiliated	10		10
Other	39		47
Total current liabilities	51		58
Long-term debt - non-affiliated	1,149		1,149
Long-term debt - affiliated	5,554		5,409
Commitments and Contingencies
Total liabilities	6,754		6,616
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders' equity	43		35
Total equity	43		35
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	6,797		6,651
Reclass & Elims [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0		0
Receivables, net	(716)		(706)
Deferred income taxes	(26)		(65)
Total current assets	(742)		(771)
Other assets:
Investment in affiliated companies	(1,125)		(1,098)
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	(11,818)		(10,760)
Total other assets	(12,943)		(11,858)
Total assets	(13,685)		(12,629)
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt - affiliated	(587)		(595)
Trade payables	(109)		(92)
Other	(46)		(84)
Total current liabilities	(742)		(771)
Long-term debt - affiliated	(11,818)		(10,760)
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	4		4
Commitments and Contingencies
Total liabilities	(12,556)		(11,527)
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders' equity	(1,129)		(1,102)
Total equity	(1,129)		(1,102)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	$ (13,685)		$ (12,629)

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