Parts for your 2017 Subaru Exiga-Thermostat

2017 Subaru Exiga Thermostat — What It Does and How To Look After It

Technical confirmation: the 2017 Subaru Exiga (including the Japan-market Crossover 7) is fitted with a conventional engine coolant thermostat. This is documented in the Subaru Workshop/Service Manual cooling system section for the YA platform, identified in Subaru’s FAST electronic parts catalogue as a thermostat assembly for the FB-series/EJ engines used in Exiga, and supported by major OEM/aftermarket catalogues listing a direct-fit thermostat for this model. So the thermostat is absolutely relevant to the 2017 Exiga.

The thermostat’s job is to help the Exiga’s flat-four warm up smartly and then stay right in the sweet spot for temperature. It holds coolant back while the engine’s cold, then opens around the low‑80s °C so flow through the radiator can control heat. That steady operating temp keeps fuel economy, emissions, power and the cabin heater all working as they should, whether it’s a frosty morning in Dunedin or a scorching arvo in Perth.

On late-model Exiga engines the thermostat sits low, by the water pump at the lower radiator hose. It’s a wax‑pellet type with a bypass circuit, and orientation matters — the jiggle valve needs to face up. Because Subaru boxers can be fussy about trapped air, bleeding the cooling system properly after any work is essential.

• Common warning signs: slow warm‑up or the gauge sitting low (stuck open), overheating, no heater at idle, temperature swings under load, cooling fans running oddly, or one radiator hose staying cold when it shouldn’t.
• Don’t keep driving if it’s overheating — that’s how head gaskets get unhappy.

Servicing advice: the thermostat isn’t a routine “every X kilometres” replacement on the Exiga, but it should be inspected whenever coolant is changed and replaced if there’s any doubt, contamination, age, or if the cooling system’s being refreshed (hoses, pump, radiator). Use a genuine‑quality thermostat and a new O‑ring/seal every time.

1. Start cold. Drain coolant safely.
2. Remove the lower hose/inlet, note the thermostat’s orientation, swap it with a new seal, and clean the mating surfaces.
3. Tighten housing bolts evenly to light factory torque, reconnect hoses.
4. Refill with the correct Subaru‑approved long‑life coolant mix via the header/expansion tank, bleed air with a spill‑free funnel, run the engine with the heater on, and top off after it cools.

A competent DIYer can handle the job with basic tools, but many owners prefer a workshop to ensure proper bleeding and pressure testing. As part of regular servicing, a cooling system check — including thermostat function, cap pressure, hose condition, and leaks — keeps the Exiga running sweet for the long haul.

Popular questions about the 2017 Subaru Exiga thermostat

Where is the thermostat on a 2017 Subaru Exiga?
It’s mounted low at the front of the engine, in the water inlet where the lower radiator hose meets the engine near the water pump. Access is from underneath once the splash guard is off, which is why a drain pan and safe vehicle support are a must.

What temperature does the Exiga thermostat open?
Most Subaru units for this generation begin to open in the high‑70s to low‑80s °C range and are fully open by the mid‑90s °C. That’s ideal for quick warm‑up and steady running. Always match the opening temperature to OEM spec when replacing.

Is it okay to keep driving with a suspect thermostat?
Not recommended. A stuck‑open thermostat can hurt fuel economy and heater performance, while a stuck‑closed one risks overheating and serious engine damage. If the gauge misbehaves or the heater goes cold at idle, get it checked before the next trip.