Aiming towards discovering a solution for the imminent fossil fuel crisis, the research contributes towards the utilisation of orange peel oil as a potential alternative to mineral diesel while strictly adhering to the emission norms. The study reveals the performance, combustion and emissions characteristics obtained upon operating a 20% by volume of OPO blended with diesel, in a compression ignition engine, integrated with a common rail direct injection (CRDi) system. The fuel injection pressures were varied as 400 bar, 500 bar and 600 bar. Furthermore, two stage injection strategies were employed while varying the pilot charge quantity as 10%, 20% and 30%. Subsequently, 10% EGR was employed for the test with 30% pilot injection quantity upon realising that the respective NOx emissions were the highest for the same. All the results were compared with the test results while utilising diesel at 600 bar injection pressure. For OPO20 the brake thermal efficiency at full load was observed to be 31.37% higher and the brake specific fuel consumption 5.53% lower than that for diesel. In-cylinder pressure values recorded were almost similar to diesel corresponding to brake power. Heat release rate was significantly higher in case of orange peel oil. Additionally, it was found that smoke, unburned hydrocarbons content and carbon monoxide emission decreased by 16.30%, 27.63% and 42.28% respectively in the engine exhaust. Oxides of nitrogen were recorded to be 15.46% higher than that of diesel. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd