Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]
Ownership percentage of existing and future material domestic owned subsidiaries			100.00%
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	20	38	153	115
Missclassification Of Intercompany Dividends [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments and net increase (decrease) in intercompany obligations		9		49
Correction To Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.		$ 26		$ 14