This is the image, with a metric measurement, of the dipstick made by the mechanic when rebuilding the engine. This may help to better understand this problem. Paolo
Here is a picture of my M-Type dipstick. After oil changes I insert the correct 8 pints of oil (4.54 litres) and the level is around 1 cm below the full (upper) mark
The marks are not easy to spot in the photo. The upper mark is centred at 18.2 cm and the lower is at 23.9 cm