Fuel blend for an internal combustion engine

A fuel blend for use in an internal combustion engine is provided. The fuel blend comprises a hydrocarbon-containing fuel component and an oxygen-containing component capable of providing a portion of the oxygen needed for combustion of the fuel component under conditions prevailing during the combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine. The major oxygen-providing agent of the oxygen-containing component is one or more compounds having the general formula (I) R2-0-(CO)-R1, wherein R1 is selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl and lower alkynyl groups, R2 is selected from lower alkyl, lower alkenyl and lower alkynyl groups, or a group having the general formula (II) R3-(CO)-0-R4- wherein R3 is selected from lower alkyl, lower alkenyl and lower alkynyl groups, and R4 is selected from lower alkyl. The blend may additionally comprise one or more of a stabilizer, a biocide and a substituted alcohol. Fuel additives comprising a combination of compounds having the general formula (I) are also provided. The additives may be used as oxygenating additives in the formulation of fuels, such as gasoline and diesel.