Statement of Comprehensive Income Loss (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net sales and operating revenues —
External										$ 7,964	$ 7,363	$ 7,205
Net sales and operating revenues	2,031	1,963	2,067	1,903	1,753	1,778	1,920	1,912		7,964	7,363	7,205
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	1,703	1,691	1,736	1,604	1,474	1,494	1,595	1,607		6,734	6,170	6,037
Goodwill impairment charge									11	0	0	11
Engineering, research, and development										144	126	133
Selling, general, and administrative										453	427	428
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles										205	205	207
Costs and expenses										7,536	6,928	6,816
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables										(4)	(4)	(5)
Other income (expense)										0	(3)	(5)
Total other income (expense)										(4)	(7)	(10)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests	118	72	141	93	84	111	137	96		424	428	379
Interest expense —
External (net of interest capitalized)										80	105	108
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies										344	323	271
Income tax expense										122	19	88
Net income										222	304	183
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests										39	29	26
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	54	12	63	54	33	125	87	30		183	275	157
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.										231	249	17
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Net sales and operating revenues —
External										3,498	3,331	3,103
Affiliated companies										350	182	162
Net sales and operating revenues										3,848	3,513	3,265
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)										3,103	3,056	2,764
Engineering, research, and development										66	57	57
Selling, general, and administrative										187	198	144
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles										78	72	74
Costs and expenses										3,434	3,383	3,039
Other income (expense)
Other income (expense)										(1)	115	80
Total other income (expense)										(1)	115	80
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests										413	245	306
Interest expense —
External (net of interest capitalized)										(2)	0	(1)
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)										70	212	211
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies										345	33	96
Income tax expense										60	(39)	12
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies										32	217	116
Net income										317	289	200
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.										317	289	200
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.										390	277	105
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Net sales and operating revenues —
External										4,466	4,032	4,102
Affiliated companies										572	547	514
Net sales and operating revenues										5,038	4,579	4,616
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)										4,553	3,843	3,949
Goodwill impairment charge										0	0	11
Engineering, research, and development										78	69	76
Selling, general, and administrative										260	224	281
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles										127	133	133
Costs and expenses										5,018	4,269	4,450
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables										(4)	(4)	(5)
Other income (expense)										59	(71)	1
Total other income (expense)										55	(75)	(4)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests										75	235	162
Interest expense —
External (net of interest capitalized)										5	5	6
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)										(72)	(81)	(72)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies										142	311	228
Income tax expense										62	58	76
Net income										80	253	152
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests										39	29	26
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.										41	224	126
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.										16	210	81
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company)
Costs and expenses
Selling, general, and administrative										6	5	3
Costs and expenses										6	5	3
Other income (expense)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests										(6)	(5)	(3)
Interest expense —
External (net of interest capitalized)										77	100	103
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)										2	(131)	(139)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies										(85)	26	33
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies										268	249	124
Net income										183	275	157
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.										183	275	157
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.										183	275	157
Reclass & Elims
Net sales and operating revenues —
Affiliated companies										(922)	(729)	(676)
Net sales and operating revenues										(922)		(676)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)										(922)	(729)	(676)
Costs and expenses										(922)	(729)	(676)
Other income (expense)
Other income (expense)										(58)	(47)	(86)
Total other income (expense)										(58)	(47)	(86)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests										(58)	(47)	(86)
Interest expense —
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies										(58)	(47)	(86)
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies										(300)	(466)	(240)
Net income										(358)	(513)	(326)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.										(358)	(513)	(326)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.										$ (358)	$ (513)	$ (326)