Segment Information (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	$ 78,560	$ 74,704
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	54,252	55,517
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,345	1,381
Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	8,736	5,257
Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	2,740	2,701
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	4,203	3,883
Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,979	1,645
Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(189)	(186)
Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(2,207)	(2,373)
Intercompany Loan Included in Financial Products' Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(1,000)
Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	9,153	7,400
Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(452)	(521)
Consolidating Adjustments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(7,902)	(6,354)
Consolidating Adjustments | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(1,567)	(1,713)
Consolidating Adjustments | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(4,435)	(3,638)
Consolidating Adjustments | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(855)	(947)
Consolidating Adjustments | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Intercompany Loan Included in Financial Products' Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(1,000)
Consolidating Adjustments | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(45)	(56)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	18,837	20,293
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	51,076	45,863
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	18,837	20,293
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,345	1,381
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	8,736	5,257
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,567	1,713
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	4,435	3,638
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	3,595	3,648
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	4,203	3,883
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	1,979	1,645
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(189)	(186)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(2,207)	(2,373)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Intercompany Loan Included in Financial Products' Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	9,153	7,400
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	(378)	(436)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	35,386	35,195
Financial Products | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	35,415	35,224
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Deferred Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Intercompany Loan Included in Financial Products' Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0
Financial Products | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Assets
Total assets	$ (29)	$ (29)