-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PNHrKA6OWG8ofHRDCHMwNf0hPRDtNB91ZZNW9PHsrId5Gj7QF21O/qUIIAWJHUfm
 SYFV7PbJmv8Fwi4/rfeMGg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000095304-03-000071.txt : 20031211
<SEC-HEADER>0000095304-03-000071.hdr.sgml : 20031211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031211132544
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000095304-03-000071
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DARNALL ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001178443

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06841
		FILM NUMBER:		031049143

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 MARKET STREET
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103-1699

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUNOCO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000095304
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PETROLEUM REFINING [2911]
		IRS NUMBER:				231743282
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TEN PENN CENTER
		STREET 2:		1801 MARKET ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103-1699
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2159773000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SUN CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SUN OIL CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19760608
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001178443d20031211f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-10</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000095304</issuerCik><issuerName>SUNOCO INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>SUN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001178443</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>DARNALL ROBERT J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>1801 MARKET STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>19103-1699</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable></nonD
erivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-10</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12.381</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>48.712</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>12.381</value></underlyin
gSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2205.516</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Share Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-10</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15.065</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>48.712</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</
value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15.065</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2683.64</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The conversion rate is 1 for 1.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Crediting of dividend equivalents on voluntary deferred compensation account pursuant to the Sunoco, Inc. Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, in transactions exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).</footnote><footnote id="F3">Dividend equ
ivalents credited as restricted share units acquired pursuant to the Sunoco, Inc. Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan, in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Ann C. Mule, Attorney-in-fact for</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----