In this work, standard diesel fuel, biodiesel (45%)-methanol (10%)-diesel (45%), biodiesel (40%)-methanol (20%)-diesel (40%), biodiesel (45%)-ethanol (10%)-diesel (45%) and biodiesel (40%)-ethanol (20%)-diesel (40%) blends are tested in a compression ignited engine under the same operating conditions. Performance and emission characteristics of the engine fueled with biodiesel-methanol-diesel (BMD) and biodiesel-ethanol-diesel (BED) are compared to standard diesel fuel as the baseline. Overall, biodiesel-alcohol-diesel blends show a higher brakespecific fuel consumption than diesel. As alcohol concentrations in blends increase, CO and HC emissions increase, while NO emissions are reduced. Also, methanol blends are more effective than ethanol blends for reducing CO and HC emissions, while NO reduction is achieved by ethanol blends. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.