Glow fuel has that name because it requires a glow plug to operate. When starting the engine, you add heat to the glow plug. The added heat and the compression in the cylinder cause the fuel to combust. The glow plug is designed to retain some of the heat from the combustion, and also has a catalyst (platinum) that causes a chemical reaction also assisting in the combustion process.

Glow fuel is mainly methanol. Oil is added for lubrication, and nitromethane is added as an oxidizer, allowing more fuel to be burned with less air in the combustion chamber and also helping the user find the proper fuel to air ratio (tuning).

Glow fuel is available from local and online hobby shops. The most important thing for us is to be sure it has the proper oil content, usually around 18% oil. The difficulty with buying glow fuel is the shipping cost. It is a hazardous material, so buying gallons of glow fuel cost quite a bit extra. Some places will sell quarts without the Hazmat charge. Either way it always seems to be that finding a 'local' store, even if it is a few hours away, is the best method (unless you are buying A LOT).