Fuel stratification has the potential to extend the high load limits of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion by improving the control over the combustion phase as well as reducing the maximum rate of pressure rise. In this work, experiments were carried out on a single-cylinder engine equipped with a dual-fuel-injection system - a port injector for preparing a homogeneous charge and a direct in-cylinder injector for creating the desired fuel stratification. The homogeneous charge was prepared using gasoline fuel while the fuel stratification was created with the in-cylinder injection of either gasoline or methanol during the compression stroke. The test results indicate that high load extension using gasoline for fuel stratification is limited by the trade-off between CO and NO(x) emissions. Weak gasoline stratification leads to an advanced combustion phase and an increase in NO(x) emission, while increasing the stratification with a higher quantity of gasoline direct injection, results in a significant deterioration in both the combustion efficiency and the CO emission. Engine tests using methanol for the stratification retarded the ignition timing and prolonged the combustion duration, resulting in a substantial reduction in the maximum rate of pressure rise and the maximum cylinder pressure - a prerequisite for HCCI high load extension. Further tests were then conducted with methanol stratification to extend the HCCI load limit and to optimize the stratified methanol-to-gasoline fuel ratio. Compared to gasoline HCCI, a 50% increase in the maximum IMEP attained was achieved with an acceptable maximum pressure rise rate of 0.5 MPa/degrees CA while maintaining a high thermal efficiency. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.