Biomass is the largest and most important renewable energy option at present. Because of similar physicochemical properties to gasoline and improved production methods, 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) has drawn extensive attention of global researchers. But currently, little investigations have been carried out on DMF as the engine fuel, especially on CI engines. In this paper, effects of DMF addition on combustion and emissions were investigated on a modified single cylinder heavy-duty diesel engine with low temperature combustion, and the characteristics of DMF and gasoline were compared specially. The results show that when DMF fraction is up to 40%, the trade-off relationship between NOx and soot disappears and soot emissions are close to zero. DMF addition has little effects on CO and THC emissions. Although the physicochemical properties of DMF and gasoline are similar, due to the difference of ignition delay and DMF is oxygenated, it makes a great difference in combustion and emission characteristics. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.