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Biodiesel from mahua is a promising source of energy in different forms like oil, gas, and char at present and for the future as well. Nations like India, which have adequate environmental conditions favouring the mahua crops, can produce oil from mahua, and this energy can be used in many efficient ways. This is an experimental approach made to test the engine performance of mahua biodiesel with nano metal oxide additives for its combustion and emission characteristics. The tests were conducted on a BSII commercial, single-cylinder, four strokes, water-cooled diesel engine. The test and operating conditions were set stringent, to generate the real-time environment. Tests were conducted at varying engine loads for determining the performance parameters like brake thermal efficiency, brake specific fuel consumption and emissions parameters like unburned hydrocarbons, CO2, CO and NOx. The results obtained from the tests showed mahua biodiesel has a higher fuel consumption rate which can be normalized to diesel by adding aluminium oxide. Moreover, improved brake thermal efficiency and reduction in ignition delay was achieved by adding nano metal oxides additives in varying proportions.