Ford EXP License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford EXP license plate light uses 194 and 168 bulb sizes for the exterior illumination system. Data for the specific lighting components covers the period from 1982 through 1988.

The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.

Bulb Size by Year Range

Years	Bulb Size
1987-1988	194
1986	168
1985	194
1984	168
1983	194
1982	168

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168

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Additional Notes

The Ford EXP license plate bulb specifications cover model years 1982-1988, with two distinct bulb sizes used across that span: the 194 and the 168.
Both the 194 and 168 are ANSI-standardized miniature wedge bulbs sharing the T10 form factor and a 12-volt operating voltage, which means they are physically interchangeable in terms of socket fit.
Despite sharing the same T10 wedge base and voltage rating, the 194 and 168 differ in wattage. The 194 draws 3.78 watts, while the 168 draws 4.9 watts, making them electrically distinct.
Because the 194 and 168 share the T10 socket, one can be physically inserted where the other is specified, but the wattage difference means the substitution is not a like-for-like electrical replacement.
The Ford EXP used the 194 bulb in model years 1983, 1985, 1987, and 1988, and the 168 bulb in model years 1982, 1984, and 1986, indicating the specification alternated between the two sizes across consecutive years.
Both bulb types carry ANSI standardization recognized in the United States and Canada, meaning replacements conforming to those standards are widely available across North American markets.