Detroit Diesel was founded in 1938 in Detroit, Michigan, as the diesel engine division of General Motors. It made its name with the compact two-stroke diesel engines of the Series 71 and the later 53 and 92 series, nicknamed Jimmies, which powered trucks, buses, boats and equipment for decades and earned a devoted following.

In 1987 the company introduced the Series 60, a four-stroke heavy truck engine with electronic controls that became one of the most successful truck engines in North America. Detroit Diesel is today part of the Daimler Truck group and continues to build heavy-duty engines for commercial vehicles.

Workshop manuals for Detroit Diesel cover full engine overhaul, cylinder and injector service, fuel systems, turbos, cooling and lubrication, and the DDEC electronic control systems fitted to later models, together with wiring diagrams, torque specifications, diagnostics and maintenance schedules. Two-stroke Detroits have particular service needs, such as blower, injector and exhaust-port checks, which the original manuals explain in detail.

Truck owner-operators, fleet maintenance shops, bus and equipment technicians, marine and generator owners and collectors of classic two-stroke Detroits will all find factory documentation valuable for correct servicing and repair. Accurate documentation is also valued by owners of the older engines that still power fishing boats, industrial plants and generators around the world. Correct factory procedures help keep these engines running smoothly and within their original specifications.