Dimethyl ether (DME), as a sustainable fuel, could be used as an ignition improver in spark ignition engines to improve the performance under lean conditions. Direct injection engines could gain higher thermal efficiency than the port fuel injection engines. To study the effects of second injection (SOI2) timing on the engine combustion characteristics, experiments were conducted on an engine with independent DME port injection and gasoline direct injection systems. Tests were performed at a constant engine speed of 1400 rpm and manifolds absolute pressure of 60 kPa under excess air ratios of 1.2 and 1.3. The start of injection during intake was kept constant at 300 degrees CA BTDC and the SOI2 timing was varied from 90 to 150 degrees CA BTDC. Split injection ratio was 1:1. Results showed that a higher brake thermal efficiency (BM), lower cyclic variation, HC and particle emissions were obtained for DME-gasoline blends engines. Moreover, the ideal S012 timing could make the heat release more concentrated and ease the cyclic variation, which enhance BTE and reduce HC, NOx and particle number emissions. In addition, when more fuel was obtained, the combustion temperature was increased, improving BTE and reducing HC emissions under lean combustion conditions. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.