[aigel]

Cop cars idle for years on the side of the road.

I don't think a modern car is hurt much by it - I can't imagine it being worse than driving it for the same amount of time.

On older cars with carbs I can see it running too rich on the idle messing up the oil with fuel and putting carbon build up on the valves and plugs ...

A diesel probably would be the preferred setup for serious weeks of idle due to the lack of plugs ...

George