-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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>0000095304-04-000151.txt : 20041203
<SEC-HEADER>0000095304-04-000151.hdr.sgml : 20041203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041203114631
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000095304-04-000151
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041203
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041203

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DELANEY TERENCE P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213296

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06841
		FILM NUMBER:		041182511

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 MARKET ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001213296d20041203f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213296</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DELANEY TERENCE P</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>Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>82.56</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-12-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock options (rights to buy Sunoco, Inc. common stock) exercisable two years from the date of grant, pursuant to the Sunoco, Inc. Long Term Performance Enhancement Plan II (&quot;LTPEP II&quot;), in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.  These stock options were granted with tandem appreciation rights (&quot;Limited Rights&quot;) that may be exercised for cash only in the event of a change in control of Sunoco, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John J. DiRocco, Jr., Attorney-in-fact for</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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