Segment Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	$ 1,457	$ 2,035
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	3,363	1,829
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Investment in Financial Products	0	0
Deferred income taxes	3,343	3,576
Goodwill, intangible assets and other assets	4,194	4,461
Operating lease methodology difference	(338)	(511)
Liabilities included in segment assets	12,541	12,088
Inventory methodology differences	(3,079)	(2,786)
Other	30	25
Total assets	90,541	81,446
Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	69,030	60,729
Machinery and Power Systems
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	1,457	2,035
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	3,363	1,829
Intercompany receivables	280	75
Investment in Financial Products	4,251	4,035
Deferred income taxes	3,881	4,109
Goodwill, intangible assets and other assets	4,194	4,461
Operating lease methodology difference	(338)	(511)
Liabilities included in segment assets	12,541	12,088
Inventory methodology differences	(3,079)	(2,786)
Other	305	362
Total assets	60,223	54,679
Machinery and Power Systems | Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	33,368	28,982
Financial Products
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	0	0
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	0	0
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Investment in Financial Products	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Goodwill, intangible assets and other assets	0	0
Operating lease methodology difference	0	0
Liabilities included in segment assets	0	0
Inventory methodology differences	0	0
Other	(143)	(194)
Total assets	35,519	31,553
Financial Products | Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	35,662	31,747
Consolidating Adjustments
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	0	0
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(280)	(75)
Investment in Financial Products	(4,251)	(4,035)
Deferred income taxes	(538)	(533)
Goodwill, intangible assets and other assets	0	0
Operating lease methodology difference	0	0
Liabilities included in segment assets	0	0
Inventory methodology differences	0	0
Other	(132)	(143)
Total assets	(5,201)	(4,786)
Consolidating Adjustments | Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	$ 0	$ 0