NOVELTY - Operation of gaseous-fueled direct injection internal combustion engine involves determining engine speed and engine load for one engine cycle, directing pilot fuel into the combustion chamber at a pilot fuel timing selected according to the exhaust gas recirculation concentration, engine speed and engine load, and burning the gaseous fuel and the pilot fuel.    USE - For controlling emissions and engine performance in gaseous fuel direct injection internal combustion engine.    ADVANTAGE - The novel method facilitates high levels of exhaust gas recirculation, which, by using an auto-ignitable pilot fuel, reduces emissions that often occur with high levels of EGR.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Operation of gaseous-fueled direct injection internal combustion engine involves determining engine speed and engine load for one engine cycle, during which an intake charge containing an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) concentration is directed to the combustion chamber (10), for compression, directly injecting a gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber at a main fuel timing, directing pilot fuel (24) into the combustion chamber at a pilot fuel timing selected according to the EGR concentration, engine speed and engine load, and burning the gaseous fuel and the pilot fuel. The pilot fuel auto-ignites at a first injection crank angle when a piston (16) is near or at top dead center within the combustion chamber that is partly defined by the piston. The gaseous fuel is ignited by the combustion of the pilot fuel.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a gaseous-fueled direct injection internal combustion engine capable of using EGR, comprising a controller, a combustion chamber defined by a piston, an intake line for passing an intake charge to the combustion chamber, a main fuel injector, a pilot fuel injector, and at least one sensor for monitoring a signal that indicates EGR concentration in the intake charge. Each injector operates at a respective timing when the piston is near top dead center near completion of a compression stroke. The sensor communicates with the controller, which in turn communicates with the pilot fuel injector to adjust the pilot fuel timing accordingly.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows the stages in a cycle of the above engine.    combustion chamber (10)    piston (16)    exhaust line (20)    pilot fuel (24)    combustion products (26)