GTL (Gas To Liquid) has the potential to be used in diesel engines as a clean alternative fuel due to advantages in emission reduction, particularly soot reduction. Since the physical properties of GTL fuel differ from those of diesel fuel to some extent, studying how this difference in characteristics of GTL and diesel fuels affects spray and combustion in diesel engines is important. In this study, visual investigation of sprays and flames from GTL and diesel fuels in a vessel simulating diesel combustion was implemented. The effects of various parameters and conditions, such as injection pressure, chamber temperature and pilot injection on liquid-phase fuel length and auto-ignition delay were investigated. It was determined that GTL has a somewhat shorter liquid-phase fuel length, which explains why there is less contact between the fuel liquid-phase and flame for GTL fuel compared to diesel fuel.