-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QgEPiWWGaZJBe8YfHo47HKinGpe4tj9S2hIEJoerGYVzVfLWT3pLrFyDedyxcJ3c
 yo0Bo06HqLQWwbO/Xalmcg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000095304-04-000045.txt : 20040310
<SEC-HEADER>0000095304-04-000045.hdr.sgml : 20040310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040310182921
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000095304-04-000045
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040310
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040310

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FAIRBAIRN URSULA F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001178437

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06841
		FILM NUMBER:		04661273

	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>c0001178437d20040310f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000095304</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUNOCO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SUN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001178437</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FAIRBAIRN URSULA F</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></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17.514</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>61.546</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>17.514</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3937.159</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Share Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8.334</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>61.546</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>8.334</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1873.61</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </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 equivalents 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/ John J. DiRocco, Jr., Attorney-in-fact for</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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