Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	$ 503		$ 365		$ 245
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets	8		3		4
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	(244)		(256)		(213)
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	(25)		(13)		(15)
Cash payments for net assets purchased			(7)
Changes in restricted cash	(5)		0		0
Net cash used by investing activities	(266)		(273)		(224)
Financing Activities
Retirement of long-term debt	(16)		(411)		(24)
Issuance of long-term debt	0		250		5
Debt issuance cost on long-term debt	0		(13)		(1)
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	24		0		0
Purchase of common stock under the share repurchase program	(27)		(18)		(16)
Issuance of common stock	20		5		0
Increase in bank overdrafts	(6)		5		3
Net increase/decrease in revolver borrowings and short-term debt excluding current maturities of long-term debt	(22)		67		30
Net increase in short-term borrowings secured by accounts receivable	(40)		50		0
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest partner	0		5		1
Purchase of noncontrolling equity interest	(69)		0		(4)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest partners	(39)		(29)		(20)
Net cash used by financing activities	(175)		(89)		(26)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(10)		6		(14)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	52		9		(19)
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	223	[1]	214	[1]	233
Cash and cash equivalents, December 31 (Note)	275	[1]	223	[1]	214	[1]
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	270		385		401
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets	1		0		3
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	(102)		(101)		(69)
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	(19)		(6)		(4)
Cash payments for net assets purchased			(7)
Net cash used by investing activities	(120)		(114)		(70)
Financing Activities
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	(148)		(268)		(330)
Net cash used by financing activities	(148)		(268)		(330)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2		3		1
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	4		1		0
Cash and cash equivalents, December 31 (Note)	6		4		1
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	185		206		83
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets	7		3		1
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	(142)		(155)		(144)
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	(6)		(7)		(11)
Changes in restricted cash	(5)
Net cash used by investing activities	(146)		(159)		(154)
Financing Activities
Retirement of long-term debt	(2)		(1)		(1)
Issuance of long-term debt			0		5
Increase in bank overdrafts	(6)		5		3
Net increase/decrease in revolver borrowings and short-term debt excluding current maturities of long-term debt	(43)		48		6
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	180		(75)		75
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest partner			5		1
Purchase of noncontrolling equity interest	(69)				(4)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest partners	(39)		(29)		(20)
Net cash used by financing activities	21		(47)		65
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(10)		6		(14)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	50		6		(20)
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	219		213		233
Cash and cash equivalents, December 31 (Note)	269		219		213
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company)
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	48		(226)		(239)
Financing Activities
Retirement of long-term debt	(14)		(410)		(23)
Issuance of long-term debt			250		0
Debt issuance cost on long-term debt			(13)		(1)
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	24
Purchase of common stock under the share repurchase program	(27)		(18)		(16)
Issuance of common stock	20		5
Net increase/decrease in revolver borrowings and short-term debt excluding current maturities of long-term debt	21		19		24
Net increase in short-term borrowings secured by accounts receivable	(40)		50		0
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	(32)		343		255
Net cash used by financing activities	$ (48)		$ 226		$ 239

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