<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-12</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001086319</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GASCO ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GASE.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001004823</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCKENZIE RICHARD C JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-12</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>15000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0.75</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>9486795</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>Held indirectly through spouse</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-17</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>76000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0.8343</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>9410795</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-18</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>30000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0.83</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>9380795</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The share ownership set forth in this item represents 4,591,400 shares of Common Stock held directly by Richard McKenzie (comprised of 2,052,400 shares held by him personally and 2,539,000 shares held in his retirement accounts through two custodians.  In addition, Mr. McKenzie holds directly 6,818 shares as Series B Preferred Stock, each of which may be converted immediately into 628.6 shares of Common Stock.  Mr. McKenzie holds 440,500 shares as co-trustee (with his wife Margaret Byrne McKenzie) of the Charitable Lead Annuity Trust 2000 and 159,100 shares as co-trustee (with his wife Margaret Byrne McKenzie) of the Charitable Lead Annuity Trust 2001.  The Seven Bridges Foundation holds 10,000 shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The share ownership set forth in this item represents 4,591,400 shares of Common Stock held directly by Richard McKenzie (comprised of 2,052,400 shares held by him personally and 2,539,000 shares held in his retirement accounts through two custodians.  In addition, Mr. McKenzie holds directly 6,818 shares as Series B Preferred Stock, each of which may be converted immediately into 628.6 shares of Common Stock.  Mr. McKenzie holds 440,500 shares as co-trustee (with his wife Margaret Byrne McKenzie) of the Charitable Lead Annuity Trust 2000 and 83,100 shares as co-trustee (with his wife Margaret Byrne McKenzie) of the Charitable Lead Annuity Trust 2001.  The Seven Bridges Foundation held 10,000 shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The share ownership set forth in this item represents 4,591,400 shares of Common Stock held directly by Richard McKenzie (comprised of 2,052,400 shares held by him personally and 2,539,000 shares held in his retirement accounts through two custodians.  In addition, Mr. McKenzie holds directly 6,818 shares as Series B Preferred Stock, each of which may be converted immediately into 628.6 shares of Common Stock.  Mr. McKenzie holds 440,500 shares as co-trustee (with his wife Margaret Byrne McKenzie) of the Charitable Lead Annuity Trust 2000 and 53,100 shares as co-trustee (with his wife Margaret Byrne McKenzie) of the Charitable Lead Annuity Trust 2001.  The Seven Bridges Foundation held 10,000 shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathryn H. Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

