Limited fossil fuel reservoir capacity and pollution caused by them is the big problem in front of researchers. In the present paper, an attempt was made to find a solution to the same. The conventional fuel injection system was retrofitted with a simple version of the common rail direct injection system for the small diesel engine. Further, the effect of injection system parameters was observed on the performance and emission characteristics of the retrofitted common rail direct injection diesel engine. The parameters such as injection pressure, the start of pilot injection timing, the start of main injection timing and quantity of percentage fuel injection during the pilot and main injection period were considered for experimental investigation. It was observed that all the evaluated parameters were found vital for improving the engine’s performance and emission characteristics. The retrofitted common rail direct injection system shows an average 7% rise in brake thermal efficiency with economic, specific fuel consumption. At the same time, much more reduction in hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and smoke opacity with a penalty of a slight increase in nitrogen oxides.
