EXHIBIT 5.1

                            Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw
                            190 South LaSalle Street
                            Chicago, Illinois 60603

                               December 18, 2002

Tenneco Automotive Inc.
500 North Field Drive
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045

                     Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8
                        2,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     In connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 2002, relating to the
offering of up to 2,000,000 shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, $0.01 par
value, of Tenneco Automotive Inc. (the "Company"), you have requested our
opinion with respect to the matters set forth below. The Shares of Common Stock
may be issued pursuant to the 2002 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

     In our capacity as the Company's special counsel in connection with such
registration, we are familiar with the proceedings taken by the Company in
connection with the authorization of the Plan. In addition, in rendering the
opinions expressed herein, we have examined and relied upon such documents,
corporate records, certificates of public officials and certificates as to
factual matters executed by officers of the Company as we have deemed necessary
or appropriate. We have assumed the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of
the originals of all documents, records and certificates submitted to us as
copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity and genuineness of the
signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which the
opinions expressed herein are rendered.

     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares of Common
Stock are duly authorized for issuance and, when issued in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
shares of the Company.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and the reference to this firm in the Prospectus
contained therein.

     We are admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois, and we express no
opinion as to matters under or involving any laws other than the laws of the
State of Illinois, the federal laws of the United States of America and the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          /s/ MAYER, BROWN, ROWE & MAW

                                          MAYER, BROWN, ROWE & MAW