Shareholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2018	Feb. 28, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized common stock available for issuance under the plan	250,000,000				135,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)					$ 0.01
Authorized amount		$ 0
Shares repurchased		0
Treasury stock		14,592,888	14,592,888
Authorized shares (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000	50,000,000		50,000,000
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Outstanding shares (in shares)		0.00
Class A
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized common stock available for issuance under the plan	175,000,000	175,000,000	135,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Treasury stock		14,592,888					11,655,938
Class B
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized common stock available for issuance under the plan		25,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01
Treasury stock							0
Common Stock | Federal-Mogul
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Tenneco shares issued for purchase of Federal-Mogul	29,444,846
Common Stock | Federal-Mogul | Class A
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01
Tenneco shares issued for purchase of Federal-Mogul	5,651,177
2015 Program
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized amount				$ 550,000,000
Remaining amount authorized to be repurchased						$ 112,000,000
Shares repurchased				4,182,613
Value of shares repurchased				$ 225,000,000
Treasury stock average cost per share				$ 53.89
2017 Program
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized amount						$ 400,000,000
Remaining amount authorized to be repurchased		$ 231,000,000
Shares repurchased			2,936,950
Value of shares repurchased			$ 169,000,000
Treasury stock average cost per share			$ 57.57