The band built a loyal following, and, in 1996, the group released Porcelain, a self-produced and financed album. The single, "Shimmer," is a song reminiscent of the Seattle grunge scene and was given heavy local airplay. Soon, Fuel was playing sold-out gigs. This success didn't escape the attention of record companies. Shortly after a show at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, Fuel signed with Sony's 550 Music.

Sunburn was released in 1998. The LP contained the local hit, "Shimmer," as well as "Untitled," a much harder hitting song with the clamor of hardcore guitar riffs. During the recording of Sunburn, Fuel used a session drummer, but the band later enlisted Kevin Miller to join the group. He was present for appearances at New York's CBGB's and Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival in 1998.

Fuel would spend the fall of 1998 opening for Aerosmith on their tour. By the summer of 1999 Fuel was headling its own tour. In 2000, Something Like Human is released, it would be certified gold by the end of the year. "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" held the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Modern Rock Chart for the seven straight weeks.