<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001513162-14-000160
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20140313
<FILING-DATE>20140317
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20140317
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CLEAN DIESEL TECHNOLOGIES INC
<CIK>0000949428
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3564
<IRS-NUMBER>061393453
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4567 TELEPHONE ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 100
<CITY>VENTURA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>93003
<PHONE>805 639 9458
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4567 TELEPHONE ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 100
<CITY>VENTURA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>93003
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Mehta Nikhil Atul
<CIK>0001502610
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-33710
<FILM-NUMBER>14698863
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CLEAN DIESEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
<STREET2>4567 TELEPHONE ROAD, SUITE 206
<CITY>VENTURA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>93003
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-03-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001502610</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Mehta Nikhil Atul</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CLEAN DIESEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4567 TELEPHONE ROAD, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VENTURA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93003</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Ofc. of CEO and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Share Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-03-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17150</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>17150</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17150</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Restricted Share Unit (RSU) represents a contingent right to receive one share of CDTI common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">RSUs vest as to 5,717 shares on March 20, 2015; 5,716 shares on March 20, 2016; and 5,717 shares on March 20, 2017. Issuance to occur as soon as practicable following the date of vesting and subject to compliance with Issuer's Insider Trading Policy, but in all cases within two and one-half months following the end of the Issuer's tax year that includes the date such RSUs vest. RSUs that have not vested at the time of the reporting person's termination of service, for any or no reason other than death or change in control, will be forfeited.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Kristi Cushing for Nikhil A. Mehta</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
