DMF (2,5-dimethylfuran)-diesel blends can solve the trade-off between NOx and soot emissions but increase combustion noise. In this study, 2% 2-ethylhexyl nitrate (EHN) was added into D40 (40% DMF by volume). Experiments were carried out on a modified single cylinder heavy-duty diesel engine. Results showed that with 2% EHN addition into D40, maximum pressure rise rate of D40 kept the same level with that of diesel, but peak soot emissions decreased by 80%. Namely EHN addition into D40 solved the new trade-off between combustion noise and soot emissions for low cetane number oxygenated fuels. With high EGR rate, EHN addition slightly increases NOx emissions but greatly decreases THC emissions. EHN addition had little effects on CO emissions. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.