Syngas is widely produced by incomplete combustion of coal, water vapor, and air (oxygen) in a high-temperature/high-pressure gasifier through a coal-gasification process for power generation. In this study, a simulation syngas which was mainly composed of $H_2$, CO, $CO_2$, and $N_2$ was fueled with diesel. A modified single cylinder compression ignition (CI) engine is equipped with intake port syngas supply system and mechanical diesel direct injection system for dual fuel combustion. Combustion and emission characteristics of the engine were investigated by applying various syngas composition ratios and compression ratios. Diesel fuel injection timing was optimized to increase indicated thermal efficiency (ITE) at the engine speed 1,800 rpm and part load net indicated mean effective pressure ($IMEP_{net}$) 2 to 5 bar. ITE of the engine increased with the $H_2$ concentration, compression ratio and engine load. With 45% of $H_2$ concentration, compression ratio 17.1 and $IMEP_{net}$ 5 bar, ITE of 41.5% was achieved, which is equivalent to that of only diesel fuel operation.