There is a catalytic reaction between the fuel and a HOT filament that improves the combustion and makes it occur at a "lower" temperature. But, if the platinum wire never got hot, then there would be no combustion. If you crank over your engine enough, you may heat the filament enough to get the engine to start. This is because the piston is compressing the air which causes it to heat up. The heat is then transfered to the filament. Usually this is not sufficient to get the methanol to burn. That's why we use a "glow stick". This heats up the filament and gets combustion started. Glow plug engines run so fast that the filament stays hot once the engine is running. But be careful. If you idle your engine too long the filament may get too cool and the engine will stop.

Heat is the key to igniting the methanol. Platinum is used because it is stronger at high temperatures than most metals. Plain steel heated up high enough will definitely do the job. It just might not do it very long.

Hope this helps explain things.

Kerry