<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  TESORO
PETROLEUM  CORPORATION'S  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AS  OF  AND FOR THE THREE MONTH
PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1996, AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                            6,976
<SECURITIES>                                          0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   154,035
<ALLOWANCES>                                      2,434
<INVENTORY>                                      65,116
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                236,100
<PP&E>                                          507,248
<DEPRECIATION>                                  227,206
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  542,411
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           109,844
<BONDS>                                         154,653
<COMMON>                                          4,318
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           0
<OTHER-SE>                                      227,860
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    542,411
<SALES>                                         238,582
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                243,587
<CGS>                                           213,309
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   213,309
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  9,979
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                3,945
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   8,737
<INCOME-TAX>                                      2,767
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               5,970
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                      5,970
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       .23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       .23