i have an 01 ram 1500 with the 5.2 and i need something that will give me the best bang for my buck as far as getting better mpg and price limit is 400-500 bucks and i need ideas i was thinking a cold air intake, a hypertech max energy programmer, or just ride my bicycle 30 miles to work and back haha any ideas would be awesome thanks guys

 

Honestly, you should just save your money and buy a beater to help ease the commute to work.

And save the truck for the weekends/snowy days

 

this comes up all the time... either what he said ^^^ or park it and use public transportation.... It is what it is and fuel efficient it is not....
(which is why mine isnt a daily driver)
making sure the plenum gasket isnt leaking and fouling the 02 sensor and plugging cat would be on my list of things to do.... you can get replacement 02 sensors for about $21 shipped from ebay...that made a difference for me as well as a new cat to replace the gutted one on my truck ... A tuneup always does wonders too But I'm assuming you would have already done that? but I know nothing about your truck so... for example aggressive mud tire tread can cost up to 4mpg over regular all season tires... and larger tires or a lift also hurts mpg although not as much if gears are addressed... Seafoaming the engine did improve how mine ran since the plenum area had oil in it and valves were carboned up it seems I'm assuming from a bad pvc valve since its been ok since I seafoamed it and replaced the pvc valve...

 

And other than a tune up if it is overdue, your driving habits are the greatest impact on mpg.

 

Put a rock under the gas peddle lol

 

Cut the throttle cable.......

Seriously though, they are trucks. They were NEVER fuel efficient to begin with. Rumors of gas going north of 4 bucks a gallon by summer aren't going to help either. A little commuter something is gonna be your best bet, and it might just pay for itself in a few months.....

 

Save that $$ for your trucks tank! Yep, gas will be like $4.20 ish before we know it... yay for us DD's...

 

don't get a hypertech, they're third rate. if you really have to have it i've got one for an 01 i'll sell you cheap. if you want a tuner - get a superchips or SCT.

for best mpg - fix plenum, cat, replace timing chain, tune up, replace o2 sensors, modest all terrain tires to 265 or 285 max, avoid mudders, avoid lift. mild tune and drive like grandma. don't expect more than 15-16 mpg.

 

if you do the things like in this video from extreme 4x4 (after plenum and tune up of coarse) should help if you are determined to get the best mpgs outta your truck.

http://www.spike.com/full-episodes/2...eason-3-ep-137

 

Thank god the company floats the tab for my company car as a perk... Its way worth the extra $700 bucks or so on my taxes at the end of the year... ... still sucks cruizing around in a camry with 4 sweet vehicles at home I cant afford to drive