<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001140361-09-022524
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20091001
<FILING-DATE>20091005
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20091005
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Asmussen Michael L
<CIK>0001444480
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-33710
<FILM-NUMBER>091105155
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>300 ATLANTIC STREET
<STREET2>SUITE 702
<CITY>STAMFORD
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06903
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CLEAN DIESEL TECHNOLOGIES INC
<CIK>0000949428
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2810
<IRS-NUMBER>061393453
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 MIDDLE STREET
<STREET2>SUITE 1100
<CITY>BRIDGEPORT
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06604
<PHONE>2034165290
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 MIDDLE STREET
<STREET2>SUITE 1100
<CITY>BRIDGEPORT
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06604
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000949428</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CLEAN DIESEL TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CDTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001444480</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Asmussen Michael L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CLEAN DIESEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10 MIDDLE ST., STE. 1100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRIDGEPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06604</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael L. Asmussen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
