Oldsmobile Silhouette License Plate Bulb Size

The Oldsmobile Silhouette license plate light utilizes 168 and 194 bulb sizes according to the provided technical specifications for the lighting components. Data for the specific bulbs covers the range from 1990 through 2004.

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	US Type	EU Type	Shop
1997-2004	168	W5W	Check Price
1990-1996	194	W5W	Check Price

Bulb Specifications

Description	Type	Shop
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168	Check Price
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Single-filament signalling bulb with W2.1x9.5d wedge base. 12V, 5W.	W5W	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194	Check Price

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Oldsmobile Silhouette uses two distinct bulb sizes for the license plate position across its production run: the 168 and the 194.
Both the 168 and the 194 are ANSI-standardized miniature wedge bulbs of the T10 type, rated at 12 volts and sharing the same physical base format.
Although the 168 and 194 share the T10 wedge base, they are not electrically identical. The 168 draws 4.9 watts while the 194 draws 3.78 watts, making them non-interchangeable without accounting for the wattage difference.
The Oldsmobile Silhouette (1997-2004) uses the 168 bulb for the license plate position.
The 1990-1996 model years use the lower-wattage 194 bulb instead.
The T10 wedge base is a pinless design that seats by friction, meaning the bulb is held in place by the tension of the socket rather than by any locking pin or bayonet mechanism.
The ANSI designation for both bulbs confirms compliance with a shared North American standardization framework covering the US and Canada, which governs the electrical and physical tolerances of each type.
The higher wattage of the 168 relative to the 194 means it produces a modestly greater light output, a factor relevant when considering cross-substitution between the two types in the same socket.