<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-08-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000067347</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MODINE MANUFACTURING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MOD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185605</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>INCROPERA FRANK P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>257 FITZPATRICK HALL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NOTRE DAME</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46556</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Modine common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1267</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2033</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.4801</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-09-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-09-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Modine common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15365</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15365</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.3343</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-07-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-07-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Modine common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2049</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2049</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.9595</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-07-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-07-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Modine common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18438</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18438</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares disposed of in private transaction to issuer to cover tax withholding.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option was previously reported as an option for 15,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $27.1250 per share, but was adjusted to reflect the stock dividend declared by Modine on July 21, 2005 in connection with the spin off and merger of Modine's Aftermarket Business in a reverse Morris Trust transaction.  As a result of the stock dividend, stock options granted by Modine were adjusted to retain their intrinsic value.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option was previously reported as an option for 2,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $28.00 per share.  See footnote 2 for further explanation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option was previously reported as an option for 18,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $21.47 per share.  See footnote 2 for further explanation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/D. R. Zakos, Attorney-in-Fact for Frank P. Incropera</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
