-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DnwzzaPo5UyMlprLOw4pwGT4DMOqw4+YfAwXqhVRaAANSF6BTapnBmIvs/3HjAf6
 NhAhmHePhoWk740Hw9fRkQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001218563-06-000003.txt : 20060802
<SEC-HEADER>0001218563-06-000003.hdr.sgml : 20060802
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060802210231
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001218563-06-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060731
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060802
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060802

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAVE THE WORLD AIR INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001103795
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-HARDWARE & PLUMBING & HEATING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [5070]
		IRS NUMBER:				522088326
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5125 LANKERSHIM BOULEVARD
		CITY:			NORTH HOLLYWOOD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		818-487-8000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5125 LANKERSHIM BOULEVARD
		CITY:			NORTH HOLLYWOOD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91601

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCKINNON BRUCE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218563

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29185
		FILM NUMBER:		06999633

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8184878000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5125 LANKERSHIM BOULEVARD
		CITY:			NORTH HOLLYWOOD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91601
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001103795</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAVE THE WORLD AIR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZERO.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218563</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCKINNON BRUCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5125 LANKERSHIM BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH HOLLYWOOD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35714</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>469814</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Pension Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>9% Convertible Notes due July 31, 2006</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-07-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>35714</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1074698</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Pension Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 400,000 shares of Common Stock held by the reporting Person and 69,814 shares of Common Stock held by the KZ Golf Defined Benefit Pension Plan in which the Reporting Person is a participant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes options to purchase 996127 shares of Common Stock held by the Reporting Person and warrants to purchase 78,571 shares of Common Stock held by the KZ Golf Inc. Defined Benefit Pension Plan in which the Reporting Person is a participant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce McKinnon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-08-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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