Mixture formation in the cylinder of a lean bum engine has been observed by Laser Induced Fluorescence technique. XeCl laser (308nm) was used to produce a laser sheet. 3-pentanone has been added to iso-octane fuel to produce fluorescence, the intensity of which is proportional to the concentration of the fuel. The laser sheet was introduced through the piston window and the fuel distribution in the vertical plane was observed through a side window. Comparison has been made for the cases of selected fuel injection timing as 0, 360, 405, and 450 CA. For the case of 0 and 360 CA injection, uniform fuel distribution in the combustion chamber has been obtained at the ignition time which is favorable for the high load mode. And the late injection cases, 405 and 450 CA, revealed the stratified formation of rich mixture around the spark plug. That extends the lean misfire limit and reduces cyclic variation in the low load mode.