Combustion and emission characteristics of diesel-tung oil-ethanol blended fuels used in a CRDI diesel engine with different injection strategies

•Diesel-tung oil-ethanol blends was formulated by micro-emulsification technique.•Brake thermal efficiency was improved for CRDI diesel engine fueled with blends.•HC and CO were increased for CRDI diesel engine fueled with blends.•Smoke were reduced for CRDI diesel engine fueled with blends at high engine loads.•Addition of ethanol had stronger effect on the engine performance than tung oil.