The present study investigates the significance of the utilization of biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil in diesel engines and its impact on engine output and environmental pollution after blending with diesel and 1-pentanol. The higher values of the ignition index and comprehensive performance index of 4.34 ×10−4mass/min°C2 and 13.71×10−6 mass2/min2 °C3, respectively, for D70B20P10 (70 % diesel, 20 % biodiesel & 10 % 1-pentanol by volume) indicate superior combustion performance. At full load, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions from 1-pentanol blended fuels decrease significantly, ranging from 40 % to 52 % and 30.76–46.15 % compared to diesel. The D70B20P10 also showed an improved thermal efficiency of 28.68 % among all tested fuels at full load but slightly lower than diesel (29.56 %). Diesel demonstrated superior in-cylinder pressure (ICP) of 77 bar and heat release rate (HRR) of 41.1 J/ºCA owing to its excellent combustion characteristics. Introducing 5–10 % 1-pentanol in blend improved combustion, elevating ICP and HRR, attributed to enhanced fuel atomization and oxygen content. The sustainable process index value obtained for a global index per person is 0.002×10−4cap Litre-1, which lies between 0 and 1, indicates sustainability and compatibility of biodiesel production demonstration by universal biofuels (Andhra Pradesh).