Engine rotation direction for dummies

[sierraspider]

Doing some maintenance while waiting for a part. I want to double check cam alignment (Belt changed 4k ago & I'm changing coolant t gasket.) Here goes the dumb ? I know it's a clockwise engine, so is that as the engine faces or as you face the front. don't know if it's a good idea to turn it backwards and I searched posts and interwebby and couldn't find answer.

[131]

Standing in front of the car, looking at the engine, it's clockwise.

[sierraspider]

Even in Australia. I thought everything went backwards down under . Thanks mate I thought there would be multiple posts when I searched.

[vandor]

There should not be any problem turning the engine backwards, as the tensioner if fixed. On engines where the tensioner has spring or oil pressure tension against it turning backwards can release some of the tension and make the belt or chain slack.
If it's slack it can easily jump a tooth. Another area where the Fiat TC is superior to the Alfa one