Outdrive oil level- dipstick or vent plug?

[boatdude100]

3L SX-A outdrive. Outdrive level. Filled from bottom till ran out vent hole, topped up a little to top of indented part of dipstick, removed vent plug to make sure it was not overfilled- considerable amount of oil started coming out.

Question: Is not the correct level of outdrive oil to the top of the vent plug such that only a little comes out when its open- or is it normal to have to top up from dipstick hole on top to a level considerably above that?

 

[Scott Danforth]

fill until the dipstick reads correctly

 

[Horigan]

Don't top up thru the dipstick hole. With the drive level, once oil starts flowing from the overflow hole, stop filling and you're good. You only need to be anywhere within the indent on the dipstick.

 

[muc]

Should be in the middle of the flat area of dip stick. Vent is the correct level.
The dip stick is in the middle of a hollow shaft that only has a very small hole to let lube in/out, so let it settle for a few minutes.