192 diesel technician tools you should have in your toolbox

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes 

Anyone who works in a shop for a living knows that working on heavy-duty equipment requires heavy-duty tooling. 

Schneider master diesel technician Tyler Spain offered his recommendations, and we compiled a list of the 192 diesel technician tools you’ll always want to have at your disposal, whether you’re a master-level diesel technician or just starting out.

Diesel technician tools list

Adapters. 

• ¼-inch to ⅜-inch.

• ⅜-inch to ¼-inch.
• ⅜-inch to ½-inch.
• ½-inch to ⅜-inch.
• ½-inch to ¾-inch.

Allen drivers.

• Standard ³⁄₃₂-inch to ⅜-inch.

• Metric 3-millimeter to 17-millimeter.

1/4-inch drive sockets.

• Standard (deep and shallow) ³⁄₁₆-inch to ⅝-inch.

• Metric (deep and shallow) 5-millimeter to 15-millimeter.

3/8-inch drive sockets.

• Standard (deep, shallow and impact) ⁵⁄₁₆-inch to 1-inch.
• Metric (deep, shallow and impact) 7-millimeter to 20-millimeter.
• 12-point ½-inch.
• Universal joint.

1/2-inch drive sockets. 

• Standard (deep, shallow and impact) ⅜-inch to 1¼-inch.
• Metric (deep, shallow and impact) 10-millimeter to 27-millimeter.
• Universal joint.

Extensions. 

• 2-inch.

• 6-inch.
• 12-inch.
• 24-inch (for reaching bell housing bolts on transmissions).

Feeler gauge set. 

• Red handle for exhaust.

• Blue handle for intake.

Hammers. 

• Dead blow.
• Ball peen.
• 4- to 5-pound sledgehammer.

Impacts. 

• ½-inch.
• ⅜-inch.
• ¼-inch (Air- or battery-powered).

Multimeter. 

• Digital readout.
• Auto-ranging.

Pliers. 

• Needle nose.
• Adjustable.

• Standard.
• Vise grip set.

Pry bar set. 

• Small 12-inch.
• Medium 24-inch.

• Large 36-inch.

Ratchets. 

• ¼-inch standard ratchet.
• ⅜-inch standard ratchet.
• ½-inch standard ratchet.

• Breaker bar

Screwdrivers. 

• Philips (short, medium, long).
• Flathead.

Torx bit drivers. 

• T10.
• T15.
• T20.
• T25.
• T27.

• T30.
• T40.
• T45 (medium and long shaft drivers).

E-Torx bit drivers. 

• E8.
• E10.
• E12.

Wiring equipment. 

• Crimping tool.

• Wire stripping tool.
• Wire cutters.
• Handheld torch.

Wrenches. 

• Standard ⁵⁄₁₆-inch to 1¼-inch.

• Metric 8-millimeter to 22-millimeter.

Do diesel technicians buy their own tools? 

Diesel technicians almost always provide most of or all of their own tools, regardless of where they work. 

Most diesel technicians start with a basic tool set while attending school and add to it over the course of their careers. At Schneider, our diesel shop leaders work with new technicians to put together a reasonable timeline of when tooling will be needed.

Some common strategies to make investing in tooling more manageable include: 

• Signing up for tool financing programs, like MATCO, Mac Tools, Snap-On or Cornwell Tools.
• Purchasing a used toolkit online on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
• Working for a company that supplies select tooling.

Schneider supplies its shops with specialty tools, such as torque wrenches and anything over a half-inch drive. Plus, Schneider diesel technicians enjoy company-provided uniforms, safety eyewear and discounts on OSHA-approved footwear through the company’s discounted safety boot program.