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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000095304-04-000012.txt : 20040108
<SEC-HEADER>0000095304-04-000012.hdr.sgml : 20040108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040108120814
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000095304-04-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NAKU ROLF D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001174602

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06841
		FILM NUMBER:		04514857

	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>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001174602d20040108f5f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>5</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported><form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported><issuer><issuerCik>0000095304</issuerCik><issuerName>SUNOCO INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>SUN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001174602</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>NAKU ROLF D</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>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice
 President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>189.715</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12631.815</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></d
irectOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>26</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1661</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></d
irectOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>ESOP Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F6"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2.199</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value></expirationDate><underl
yingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2.199</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>599</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These securities were acquired through the routine reinvestment of dividends service provided by a brokerage firm.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Price ranged from $36.31 to $49.243 during fiscal year 2003.  This information is provided by a brokerage firm.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Routine, periodic acquisition of share equivalents pursuant to the Sunoco, Inc. Capital Accumulation Plan in transaction exempt under Rule 16(b).  This information is supplied by the Plan Ad
ministrator.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Price ranged from $31.32 to $51.15 during fiscal year 2003.  This information is supplied by the Plan Administrator for the Sunoco, Inc. Capital Accumulation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F5">The conversion rate is 1 for 1.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Routine, periodic acquisition of share equivalents (having no voting rights, and payable only in cash) pursuant to the Sunoco, Inc. Savings Restoration Plan, in transactions exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Price ranged from $31.32 to $51.15 during fiscal year 2003.  This information is supplied by the Plan Administrator for the Sunoco, Inc. Savings Restoration Plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ John J. DiRocco, Jr., Attorney-in-fact for</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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