Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	$ (140)		$ (92)
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets	0		2
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	(83)		(70)
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	(7)		(6)
Changes in restricted cash	(1)		(9)
Net cash (used) by investing activities	(91)		(83)
Financing Activities
Issuance (repurchase) of common shares	(2)		1
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	12		0
Retirement of long-term debt	(3)		(5)
Increase (decrease) in bank overdrafts	4		(9)
Net Increase Decrease In Revolver Borrowings And Short Term Debt Excluding Current Maturities Of Long Term Debt And Short Term Borrowings Secured By Accounts Receivable	197		191
Increase Decrease In Secured Short Term Debt		20
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	0		0
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest partners	1	1	0
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	229		178
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(6)		7
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(8)		10
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	275	233
Cash and cash equivalents, March 31 (Note)	267	275	233
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(208)		(102)
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets			0
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	(25)		(32)
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	(4)		(3)
Changes in restricted cash	0
Net cash (used) by investing activities	(29)		(35)
Financing Activities
Issuance (repurchase) of common shares	0
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0
Retirement of long-term debt	0		0
Increase (decrease) in bank overdrafts	0		0
Net Increase Decrease In Revolver Borrowings And Short Term Debt Excluding Current Maturities Of Long Term Debt And Short Term Borrowings Secured By Accounts Receivable	0		0
Increase Decrease In Secured Short Term Debt		0
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	233		137
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest partners		0
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	233		137
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4)		0
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	6	4
Cash and cash equivalents, March 31 (Note)	2	6	4
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	90		15
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets			2
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	(58)		(38)
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	(3)		(3)
Changes in restricted cash	(1)
Net cash (used) by investing activities	(62)		(48)
Financing Activities
Issuance (repurchase) of common shares	0
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0
Retirement of long-term debt	0		0
Increase (decrease) in bank overdrafts	4		(9)
Net Increase Decrease In Revolver Borrowings And Short Term Debt Excluding Current Maturities Of Long Term Debt And Short Term Borrowings Secured By Accounts Receivable	24		3
Increase Decrease In Secured Short Term Debt		0
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	(55)		42
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest partners		1
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(26)		36
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(6)		7
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4)		10
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	269	229
Cash and cash equivalents, March 31 (Note)	265	269	229
Tenneco Inc
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(22)		(5)
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets			0
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	0		0
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	0		0
Changes in restricted cash	0
Net cash (used) by investing activities	0		0
Financing Activities
Issuance (repurchase) of common shares	(2)
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	12
Retirement of long-term debt	(3)		(5)
Increase (decrease) in bank overdrafts			0
Net Increase Decrease In Revolver Borrowings And Short Term Debt Excluding Current Maturities Of Long Term Debt And Short Term Borrowings Secured By Accounts Receivable	173		188
Increase Decrease In Secured Short Term Debt		20
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	(178)		(179)
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest partners		0
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	22		5
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, March 31 (Note)	0	0	0
Reclass and Elims
Operating Activities
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	0		0
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of assets			0
Cash payments for plant, property, and equipment	0		0
Cash payments for software related intangible assets	0		0
Changes in restricted cash	0
Net cash (used) by investing activities	0		0
Financing Activities
Issuance (repurchase) of common shares	0
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0
Retirement of long-term debt	0		0
Increase (decrease) in bank overdrafts	0		0
Net Increase Decrease In Revolver Borrowings And Short Term Debt Excluding Current Maturities Of Long Term Debt And Short Term Borrowings Secured By Accounts Receivable	0		0
Increase Decrease In Secured Short Term Debt		0
Intercompany dividends and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	0		0
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest partners		0
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	0		0
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1		0
Cash and cash equivalents, March 31 (Note)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0