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 shop leaders work with new technicians to put together the best tools for diesel technicians and a reasonable timeline of when they need to have them.

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.