This paper describes an experimental study of the effect of injection timing on the combustion characteristics in four stroke cycle diesel engine with direct injection type combustion chamber. The effect of injection timing and compression ratio of engine on the combustion characteristics are investigated. Experimental results of combustion characteristics in cylinder show that the combustion pressure and the rate of pressure rise decrease in accordance with the retard of fuel injection timing. It is observed that the rate of pressure rise in cylinder is increased an increase in the compression ratio of engine. The effect of the fuel injection timing on the frequency of cylinder pressure brings about the same trend of the maximum rate of pressure rise in cylinder.