<div class="htmlview paragraph">Tests were performed on a single-cylinder direct-injection (DI) research diesel engine to investigate the influence of elevated combustion-chamber temperature on combustion performance. The test program examined the low-heat-rejection (LHR) approach by removing the coolant but without employing heat-insulated parts. Heat-release characteristics calculated from pressure-time histories were correlated with measured exhaust emissions.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">It was found that increasing temperature level decreases the ignition delay and consequently decreases the fraction of total fuel that burns in the premixed-combustion phase. Exhaust hydrocarbon, NOx and particulate emission were found generally to increase with increasing temperature. The premixed-combustion fraction is concluded not to be the main source of the increased emissions.</div>