This work is dedicated to the study of the properties of ethanol blended fuels and evaluates their behavior in conventional Diesel combustion and advanced combustion such as Low Temperature Combustion (LTC). The addition of ethanol into Diesel fuel affects some key properties such as the blend stability, the cetane number or the flash point, the fuel formulation was thus improved. The remaining weak ignitability of the blends requires an engine settings optimization, which associated to the high oxygen content allows a combine reduction of smoke levels and NOx emissions, with a contained fuel consumption penalty. These oxygenated fuels also lead to an extended LTC operating range and improved maximum power output. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.