Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 275	[1]	$ 223	[1]	$ 214	[1]	$ 233
Restricted cash	5		0
Receivables, net	1,060		986
Inventories	656		667
Deferred income taxes	71		72
Prepayments and other	223		176
Total current assets	2,290		2,124
Other assets:
Long-term receivables, net	14		4
Goodwill	69		72
Intangibles, net	30		35
Deferred income taxes	125		116
Other	127		135
Total other assets	365		362
Plant, property, and equipment, at cost	3,498		3,365
Less — Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,323)		(2,243)
Plant, property and equipment, net	1,175		1,122
Total Assets	3,830		3,608		3,337
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt — non-affiliated	83		113
Accounts payable	1,359		1,186
Accrued taxes	40		50
Other	356		300
Total current liabilities	1,838		1,649
Long-term debt — non-affiliated	1,019		1,067
Deferred income taxes	28		27
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	453		559
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	3,338		3,302
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	20		15
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	433		246
Noncontrolling interests	39		45
Total equity	472		291		43
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	3,830		3,608
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	6		4		1		0
Receivables, net	387		341
Inventories	279		278
Deferred income taxes	87		91
Prepayments and other	35		28
Total current assets	794		742
Other assets:
Investment in affiliated companies	944		551
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	1,026		957
Long-term receivables, net	12		2
Goodwill	22		21
Intangibles, net	13		18
Deferred income taxes	72		55
Other	44		31
Total other assets	2,133		1,635
Plant, property, and equipment, at cost	1,173		1,098
Less — Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(807)		(763)
Plant, property and equipment, net	366		335
Total Assets	3,293		2,712
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt — affiliated	247		250
Accounts payable	521		423
Accrued taxes	9		16
Other	128		135
Total current liabilities	905		824
Long-term debt — affiliated	1,700		1,447
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	357		438
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	2,962		2,709
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	331		3
Total equity	331		3
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	3,293		2,712
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	269		219		213		233
Restricted cash	5
Receivables, net	1,306		1,268
Inventories	377		389
Deferred income taxes			0
Prepayments and other	188		148
Total current assets	2,145		2,024
Other assets:
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	7,320		4,495
Long-term receivables, net	2		2
Goodwill	47		51
Intangibles, net	17		17
Deferred income taxes	9		1
Other	60		75
Total other assets	7,455		4,641
Plant, property, and equipment, at cost	2,325		2,267
Less — Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,516)		(1,480)
Plant, property and equipment, net	809		787
Total Assets	10,409		7,452
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt — non-affiliated	68		112
Short-term debt — affiliated	176		173
Accounts payable	1,011		954
Accrued taxes	31		34
Other	285		210
Total current liabilities	1,571		1,483
Long-term debt — non-affiliated	8		8
Long-term debt — affiliated	7,338		4,533
Deferred income taxes	28		27
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	92		118
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	9,037		6,169
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	20		15
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,313		1,223
Noncontrolling interests	39		45
Total equity	1,352		1,268
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	10,409		7,452
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company)
Current assets:
Receivables, net	16		30
Deferred income taxes	7		6
Total current assets	23		36
Other assets:
Investment in affiliated companies	696		717
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	4,826		4,594
Deferred income taxes	44		60
Other	23		29
Total other assets	5,589		5,400
Total Assets	5,612		5,436
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt — non-affiliated	15		1
Short-term debt — affiliated	10		10
Other	9		9
Total current liabilities	34		20
Long-term debt — non-affiliated	1,011		1,059
Long-term debt — affiliated	4,134		4,066
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	5,179		5,145
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	433		291
Total equity	433		291
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	5,612		5,436
Reclass & Elims
Current assets:
Receivables, net	(649)		(653)
Deferred income taxes	(23)		(25)
Total current assets	(672)		(678)
Other assets:
Investment in affiliated companies	(1,640)		(1,268)
Notes and advances receivable from affiliates	(13,172)		(10,046)
Total other assets	(14,812)		(11,314)
Total Assets	(15,484)		(11,992)
Short-term debt (including current maturities of long-term debt)
Short-term debt — affiliated	(433)		(433)
Accounts payable	(173)		(191)
Other	(66)		(54)
Total current liabilities	(672)		(678)
Long-term debt — affiliated	(13,172)		(10,046)
Postretirement benefits and other liabilities	4		3
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	(13,840)		(10,721)
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	(1,644)		(1,271)
Total equity	(1,644)		(1,271)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	$ (15,484)		$ (11,992)

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