This study investigates the performance and emissions of a direct injection (DI) diesel engine with three fuel series: biodiesel-diesel, biodiesel-diesel-additive and kerosene-biodiesel. Biodiesel is produced from canola oil and the effect of a new biodiesel additive, Wintron XC 30 (2 vol.%), is examined for engine performance and emissions. Systematic tests are undertaken over different blends, such as 0, 5, 10, 20,50 and 100 volume percent of biodiesel in biodiesel-diesel and biodiesel-diesel-additive blends, and 0, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 volume percent of kerosene in kerosene-biodiesel blends. Engine performance and emissions at rated engine speed of 1800 rpm under three different loading conditions (low, medium and high) are investigated. Brake specific fuel consumption (bsfc) and fuel conversion efficiency (eta(f)) are used to compare engine performance, and emission analysis is based on parameters such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.