Segment Information - Information by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	$ 3,399	$ 3,495	$ 3,431	$ 3,274	$ 3,275	$ 3,354	$ 3,434	$ 3,342	$ 13,599	$ 13,405	$ 14,484
Operating income	742	$ 808	$ 792	$ 722	679	$ 761	$ 730	$ 697	3,064	2,867	2,888
Depreciation and amortization and impairment of intangible assets									470	477	507
Plant and equipment additions									273	284	361
Identifiable assets	15,201				15,729				15,201	15,729	17,465
Operating segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									3,155	2,938	2,958
Operating segments | Automotive OEM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue									2,864	2,529	2,590
Operating income									690	613	600
Operating segments | Food Equipment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue									2,110	2,096	2,177
Operating income									537	498	453
Operating segments | Test & Measurement and Electronics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue									1,974	1,969	2,204
Operating income									372	322	340
Operating segments | Welding
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue									1,486	1,650	1,850
Operating income									370	415	479
Operating segments | Polymers & Fluids
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue									1,691	1,712	1,927
Operating income									343	335	357
Operating segments | Construction Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue									1,609	1,587	1,707
Operating income									361	316	289
Operating segments | Specialty Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue									1,885	1,885	2,055
Operating income									482	439	440
Intersegment revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue									(20)	(23)	(26)
Corporate And Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									(91)	(71)	(70)
Continuing Operations | Operating segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Plant and equipment additions									273	284	358
Identifiable assets	10,844				10,490				10,844	10,490	11,375
Continuing Operations | Operating segments | Automotive OEM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization and impairment of intangible assets									90	76	79
Plant and equipment additions									116	106	96
Identifiable assets	2,051				1,419				2,051	1,419	1,454
Continuing Operations | Operating segments | Food Equipment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization and impairment of intangible assets									45	48	52
Plant and equipment additions									31	37	47
Identifiable assets	1,013				1,054				1,013	1,054	1,123
Continuing Operations | Operating segments | Test & Measurement and Electronics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization and impairment of intangible assets									104	110	115
Plant and equipment additions									25	32	56
Identifiable assets	2,362				2,448				2,362	2,448	2,615
Continuing Operations | Operating segments | Welding
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization and impairment of intangible assets									36	37	38
Plant and equipment additions									16	23	36
Identifiable assets	701				747				701	747	879
Continuing Operations | Operating segments | Polymers & Fluids
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization and impairment of intangible assets									92	95	99
Plant and equipment additions									18	20	28
Identifiable assets	2,019				2,034				2,019	2,034	2,257
Continuing Operations | Operating segments | Construction Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization and impairment of intangible assets									34	36	43
Plant and equipment additions									20	26	41
Identifiable assets	1,099				1,129				1,099	1,129	1,249
Continuing Operations | Operating segments | Specialty Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization and impairment of intangible assets									69	75	81
Plant and equipment additions									47	40	54
Identifiable assets	1,599				1,659				1,599	1,659	1,798
Continuing Operations | Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	$ 4,357				$ 5,239				4,357	5,239	6,090
Discontinued Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Plant and equipment additions									$ 0	$ 0	$ 3