Oldsmobile Omega License Plate Bulb Size

The Oldsmobile Omega license plate component utilizes 194 and 97 bulb sizes for the lighting system across various production versions. Data for the lighting specifications covers the period from 1973 through 1984.

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
1975-1984	194
1973-1974	97

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Oldsmobile Omega uses two distinct bulb types for the license plate position across its model years: the 194 and the 97.
The 194 bulb is the license plate bulb for the Oldsmobile Omega across the 1975-1984 model years.
The 97 bulb applies to the 1973-1974 model years.
The 194 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W, conforming to ANSI standards for the US and Canadian markets.
The wedge base of the 194 bulb requires no metal base or locking mechanism, as the glass envelope itself acts as the retaining element within the socket.
The 97 is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 13W, also conforming to ANSI standards for the US and Canadian markets.
At 13W, the 97 draws considerably more power than the 3.78W 194, reflecting a generational difference in license plate lighting design between the earlier and later Omega model years.
The 97 is noted as a variant of the 1156 bulb family, though it is not a direct replacement for the 1156 due to differences in wattage and other electrical characteristics.
The BA15s bayonet base of the 97 bulb is a single-contact fitting, distinguishing it from dual-contact bayonet bases used in other automotive applications.
The 194 and 97 bulbs use physically incompatible base types, meaning they are not interchangeable between the pre-1975 and post-1974 Omega model years.