Ford L8513 License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford L8513 uses a license plate light with a unique bulb size of 1157 for the specific lighting components. Data for the bulb size covers the range of 1996 through 1998.

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
1996-1998	1157

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. 12V, 21W/5W.	1157

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 1157 is the license plate bulb size for the Ford L8513 across the 1996-1998 model years.
The 1157 bulb follows the ANSI standard, which is the American National Standards Institute's classification system used to ensure consistent bulb specifications across manufacturers in the United States and Canada.
It is a dual-filament bulb, meaning it contains two separate filaments within a single envelope, each operating at a different wattage: 21W for the higher-intensity filament and 5W for the lower-intensity filament.
The 1157 uses a BAY15d bayonet base, a two-pin offset base type where the two pins are positioned at different heights to prevent incorrect insertion orientation.
The bulb operates at 12 volts, consistent with the standard electrical system voltage found in most production road vehicles.
Because the 1157 is a dual-filament type, it is not directly interchangeable with single-filament bulbs of similar physical size, such as the 1156, without accounting for the difference in filament count and pin configuration.