Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net Sales and Operating Revenues	$ 2,155	$ 2,096	$ 2,212	$ 2,136	$ 2,031	$ 2,020	$ 2,118	$ 2,012	$ 8,599	$ 8,181	$ 8,381
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	1,794	1,743	1,816	1,770	1,687	1,707	1,757	1,677	7,123	6,828	6,989
Earnings Before Interest Expense, Income Taxes and Noncontrolling Interests	71	150	171	124	129	111	150	118	516	508	489
Net Income Attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 38	$ 179	$ 82	$ 57	$ 70	$ 49	$ 75	$ 47	$ 356	$ 241	$ 225
Basic Earnings per Share of Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 3.22	$ 1.44	$ 1.00	$ 1.19	$ 0.84	$ 1.24	$ 0.79	$ 6.36	$ 4.05	$ 3.70
Earnings per average share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.69	$ 3.19	$ 1.43	$ 0.99	$ 1.18	$ 0.83	$ 1.23	$ 0.78	$ 6.31	$ 4.01	$ 3.64