In recent years, exponential growth in population and accompanying surges in energy demands have created huge power requirements. This study explores pork lard methyl ester (PLME) produced from waste pork lards, an economically competitive contender to food grade oils. Using pork lards for biodiesel production serves the dual purpose of cheap biodiesel production and safe disposal of pork lards from meat processing facilities. The objective of this study is to compare the performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of PLME20-fuelled diesel engines under different combinations of injection pressures and injection timings. Experimental results have shown that efficiency is increased by 3% when injection pressure is increased to 240 bar with retarded injection timing of 21° before top dead center (bTDC) at full load. The brake-specific energy consumption is found to decrease by 1.88 MJ/kWh for the same blend (PLME20 at 240 bar, 21° bTDC). In the emission point of view, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions are found to be decreased drastically for increased pressure with retardation of injection timing. However, nitrogen oxide emission is found to be increased for higher injection pressures. Hence, PLME of 20% blend in compression ignition engine exhibits better characteristics with the higher injection pressures and retardation of injection timing. Abbreviations: PLME: pork lard methyl ester; PLME20: diesel 80% + pork lard methyl ester 20%; ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials; BMEP: brake mean effective pressure; BSFC: brake-specific fuel consumption; BSEC: brake-specific energy consumption; bTDC: before top dead center; BTE: brake thermal efficiency; BSCO: brake-specific carbon monoxide; BSHC: brake-specific hydrocarbon; BSNOX: brake-specific oxides of nitrogen; CHRR: cumulative heat release rate; CI: compression ignition; CO2: carbon dioxide; DI: direct injection; IP: injection pressure; IT: injection timing; FIP: fuel injection pressure; FIT: fuel injection timing; HRR: heat release rate; KOH: potassium hydroxide; LHV: lower heating value; ND: neat diesel; NOx: nitrogen oxide; WPL: waste pork lards. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.