water in oil filler chamber

My 97 2.0s petrol suffers from moisture in the oil filler chamber.condensation?
The water level has not changed for the past year and there is not sign of oil on the water. There are a few hoses coming from or going to the chamber from the air intake and the throttle housing. Does anyone else have this problem or know how to cure it ? Could this bring about the idle problem.( still not totally solved but getting better! ). Thanks for looking.

It's unlikely to be a water leaking into oil problem as it would tend to get worse quite quickly.
It's more likely just a consequence of driving in cold weather with lot's of stops and starts.
The chamber is cool due to the air around it and the air being drawn in and this causes the water to condense out and mix with the oil vapour to produce that horrible sludge you get.
No real fix except to take it for a good long run when ever you can and to clean it out manually every now and then.

How many of your trips are over 10 miles, and at a brisk speed (ie average 40 mph or above?).

The Punto had mayonnaise in the top when we bought it - now it's clear, as it mostly does 15 miles or more at a time.

Short trips are for feet/bikes!

If you really do a lot of short trips then remember that a) most of the damage to the engine is in the first 5 miles - so your engine is going to be knackered, sooner and b) your oil will also be knackered, sooner, so change it every 3000 miles.

Thanks for replys. Pat H and pinkpunto. I'll have to get the wife to walk to school with the kids even if it is wet, and living in the far North of Scotland we can get our fair share of rain. having said that most journeys are 5 miles or more on open roads. (The village is only around 1.5 miles long). Also using Castrol GTX Magnatec oil for the last couple of years to help protect the engine right from the turn of the key. Thats what the TV ads say!
All the best.
donald

If you really want to protect the engine and a lot of other stuff try ZX1
http://www.zx1store.co.uk/departments.cfm?id=1
It's expensive but you don't need much. 200 mil or so for the engine.
It'll also go in the gearbox, power steering. even rad water.
It's a seriously good anti friction component.
I've used it in my motorbikes for years and I can tell the difference when I add it.