Transient characteristics of the exhaust gas emissions of THC, NOx and so on during starting operation in a DI diesel engine and the influence of engine operating parameters and fuel properties on them were investigated. The results indicated that THC concentration just after onset of starting increased until about 50 th to 200 th cycle after the starting when the fuel deposited on the combustion chamber showed the maximum, and then decreated to reach a steady state value after about 1000 cycles when the piston wall temperature became almost constant. NOx showed an initial higher peak at about 6th cycle after the starting, and increased to reach the steady state value after about 1000cycles. Exhaust odor during starting had a strong correlation with the THC while the odor decreased much after reaching the maximum. Except just after the onset of starting, an increase in piston wall temperature resulted in a decrease in the THC concentration and an increase in the NOx. The THC increased significantly with increased fuel injection amount and with decreased cranking speeds while there was little effect of fuel injection timings. The THC during the starting increased with fuels with higher viscosity, higher 90% distillation temperature, and lower ignitability.