Based on the optical engine test platform, the effects of pre-injection and main injection strategies on the combustion characteristics and soot emissions of 2-methylfuran (MF)/diesel reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) were explored under the condition of MF accounting for 50% of the total calorific value of single cycle injection by using high-speed camera technology and in-cylinder combustion analysis technology. Results show that, in the pilot-main interval (crank angle between main and pilot injection) of less than 40°, with the advance of the pre-injection time, the pre-injected diesel and MF mix more evenly, the low-temperature heat release is no longer limited to the cylinder center, and the atomization and evaporation of the main injection diesel are better. The uniform mixture makes the flame change from diffusion combustion to the coexistence of premixed and diffusion combustion, which makes the combustion more sufficient and the combustion rate faster. The high soot area with KL factor above 1.5 in the combustion chamber is reduced, and the soot generation rate and yield are significantly reduced. The main injection time has a great influence on the flame development in the early stage of combustion. As the main injection time is delayed, the ignition delay period and combustion duration are shortened, the combustion phase is delayed, the low temperature heat release in the early stage of combustion increases, the flame development speed slows down, and the soot formation increases in the later stage.