-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A0G6A7/3II9Wy2vfuSafyl83DkcCfYJN9LuIumxrKYU64DKO7kIOGA5c4B18Tvl8
 LodcaSf5Hnuf23HFTWIxdA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001180330-03-000005.txt : 20030917
<SEC-HEADER>0001180330-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20030917
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030917112915
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001180330-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030904
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030917

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POTTER ROSANNE S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180330

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05263
		FILM NUMBER:		03898883

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29400 LAKELAND BLVD.
		CITY:			WICKLIFFC
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44092

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LUBRIZOL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000060751
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL ORGANIC CHEMICALS [2860]
		IRS NUMBER:				340367600
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29400 LAKELAND BLVD
		CITY:			WICKLIFFE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44092
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2169434200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29400 LAKELAND BLVD
		CITY:			WICKLIFFE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44092
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-04</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000060751</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LUBRIZOL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180330</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POTTER ROSANNE S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>29400 LAKELAND BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WICKLIFFE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44092</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>150</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.79</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1711.5028</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>210.9577</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares withheld to pay taxes upon the lapse of restrictions on shares granted at hire date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects acquisitions pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan under Rule 16a-11.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects end of period holdings resulting from acquisitions pursuant to a qualified plan, which are exempt under Rule 16b-3(c).</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rosanne S. Potter by Andrea A. Zwegat</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----