Purpose of the engine fan?
 

I know, sounds like a dumb question and probably is, but my real question is: does the fan (which runs off the serpentine belt), force air into the radiator, or pull air through the radiator? I would think it would pull air through the radiator, otherwise the air being forced into the radiator by the vehicle's movement forward would be stagnated by the fan blowing air from the opposite side, right???
The reason for my question is that I want to be sure that I did not reinstall the fan on the fan clutch backwards. I just replaced the serpentine belt tensioner, ('92 300TE 4Matic), but instead of removing the fan clutch assembly, (center allen bolt was stripped), I just took off the three small bolts that hold on the plastic fan blades. Unfortunately, I didn't concentrate on the direction of the fan blades when I removed it, (duh!), but when I went to reinstall it, it seemed to only fit in the direction it's in now, which pulls air through the radiator, thus blowing the air onto the engine block. Based upon the drawing in the repair schematic from the W124 Repair CD however, it is backward. Which is correct? Thanks.
P.S. I have double-checked and the belt is properly installed. Thanks.

1962 MB 220SEb "Fintail" Sedan
1992 MB 300TE 4Matic Wagon
1995 Subaru Legacy AWD

I believe you are right - It would not work well for the fan to blow air towards the radiator and against the direction of a moving car.
The fan is meant to cool the engine block.
Following the same logic, the aux fan is (are) mounted outside the engine bay and cools the condenser and radiator.

Cheers

The fans cause air to flow through the A/C condenser and radiator and are primarily needed during low speed driving and moderate speed driving in hot weather. Above about 40 MPH vehicle movement causes enough air to flow through the condenser/radiator to meet most cooling requirements.

The engine driven fan is a "puller" and the auxillary electric fan(s) in front of the radiator are "pushers".

Duke

A rule of thumb
 

Any time you remove a part, you can almost always see some wear/a mark or prints from where the other mating part(s) were joind together. Example would be dirt around the bolts that you will see on one side and not the other. If you're not sure of how the parts go together, look for these marks. I have learned this through my job as a test engineer.
Meza:)

As I understand it, there is no chance to put the fan so you get the direction the other way. Even backwards mounted it will blow the right way...
L.

L. is correct. Either way the fan would draw, but there is a correct way due to the curvature of the blades.

Good luck,

Great, thanks everyone, you have all helped to put my mind at ease and taught me things at the same time - I love this forum!!

1962 MB 200SEb "Fintail" Sedan
1992 MB 300TE 4Matic Wagon
1995 Subaru Legacy AWD