Bockman's Auto Care - June 2021

Bockman's Auto Care - June 2021

What’s The BUZZ? Honoring the Man Who Started It All Why I Feel Blessed This Father’s Day JUNE 2021

When I was a little kid, it wasn’t always

easy for my dad to get away from the business and spend time with our family. When you’re a business owner, you have so much responsibility to your own family and the families of your employees. So many people are counting on you. Today, as a father and a business owner myself, I can understand the sacrifices he made for us and those he employed. Regardless of the 12-hour workdays Dad put in, this Father’s Day and the many Father’s Days I’ve been

lucky to celebrate with him, remind me to reflect on just how good of a father and mentor he was and continues to be for me. I was the youngest of three kids, so when Dad could slip away from work, I usually joined him and Mom on fishing and camping trips. (Dad still loves to fish.) Dad was the one who got me into snowmobiling, too. I always knew we were going to have fun, no matter what adventure he was taking us on. He was always so approachable, and to this day, he’s known for always having a smile on his face. Many customers and our employees know my dad well, too. He’s somewhat of a legend in the local business! I learned a lot about this business just by being around him and working when I could with him. He always treated the customers with respect, and he selflessly served this community. I recently found letters from previous customers thanking my dad for his commitment to them. In one letter, I learned about a holiday season when Dad stayed late because he was helping a customer fix their vehicle so they could get

home for the holidays. It was no surprise to me. He always thinks about what other people need rather than his own needs or desires. Plus, I watched him be a great boss to everyone he employed. He rarely raised his voice, taking time to listen to the problem rather than reacting to what was happening. That stuck with me as I took on his role and transformed Bockman’s into my own business. In fact, I still rely on Dad’s advice! I often bounce ideas off him and ask for his perspective on a lot of decisions I make. As a dad myself, I feel lucky to have had such a great role model to learn from. My dad taught me a lot when I was a kid, and his lessons are still so much a part of who I am today. In some ways, I’m still learning from him. I can always rely on Dad for advice or a smile, and looking back on all the memories I have with him, it’s no wonder why I’m feeling very blessed this Father’s Day.

Happy Father’s Day!

— Jon Bockman

Sycamore 815.756.7413 • DeKalb 815.754.4200

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DIY or Buy?

Beat the Heat

Lawn Games for Family Summer Fun

With These Air Conditioning Maintenance Tips

There are few moments more sweat-inducing than racing into a hot vehicle and waiting for that sweet cool air to blow on a hot summer day. But if you want to avoid a total air conditioner meltdown this summer, make sure you abide by our experts’ maintenance tips. Replace the Air Filter Regularly You may not give much thought to your vehicle’s air filter, but you should consider replacing it every 12,000–15,000 miles. This will vary depending on how often you drive it, how often you use your cooling system, and how clean your engine stays. However, a dirty air filter cannot catch debris and dirt as well as a clean air filter can. This could limit the functionality of your air conditioning unit and create lukewarm or hot air. Schedule Regular Maintenance Check Just as you go to the doctor once each year, your vehicle should do the same. In these regular inspections, technicians test and examine your vehicle

The warm summer sun may be enough to beckon your family outdoors, but lawn games will guarantee hours of fun outside. If you’re handy, there are plenty of great lawn games you can make yourself. If not, buy an off-the-shelf alternative and enjoy the easy setup. Giant Jenga: Easy DIY All you need to build a giant Jenga tower are two-by-fours that are cut to length. If you’re handy with a saw, you can do this at home. If not, ask to have the wood cut at your local lumberyard. Be sure to sand down the edges before stacking the boards to create a classic Jenga tower! For extra fun, pick a few paint colors and paint each board. Visit ABeautifulMess.com/ make-this-giant-jenga to see a complete set of instructions.

Buy: Skip the project and buy GoSports Giant Wooden Toppling Tower online, which retails for about $70 and stacks over 5 feet high.

Classic Horseshoes: Intermediate DIY Tossing horseshoes is a great way to pass an afternoon. To play, you’ll just need to set up two sand pits in your yard. Get a handful of horseshoes, and you’re ready to go! Many DIY plans are available online, including one from HousefulOfHandmade. com/ultimate-diy-horseshoe-pit. Buy: Check out the kid-friendly rubber horseshoe set from Wayfair.com, which requires no installation, can be used indoors or alongside your outdoor game, and is safe for younger children. Cornhole: Advanced DIY The humble beanbag may be the most versatile backyard game piece. It’s used in the popular game commonly known as cornhole. To build your own cornhole set, you’ll need a couple of sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood along with two-by-fours, some hardware, and a variety of tools including a drill, jigsaw, and sander. Visit DIYPete.com/cornhole-board-plans to get both written and video instructions. Buy: Ready to play ASAP? Cornhole sets are available from many large retailers around summertime, or you can order a customized set featuring your favorite team, family name, or characters from your favorite movies by looking at Etsy.com. Whether you buy or DIY, remember to have fun and always supervise your children while playing outdoors, especially when it comes to yard games!

Explore a N On National Ge

Many people in the U.S. and across the world have a national park trip on their travel bucket list. While Zion, Yellowstone, and the Great Smoky Mountains are all awesome locales, outdoor enthusiasts often overlook a resource that is less busy, less expensive, and usually right in their backyard: national forests. All but 10 states have a national forest (or more than one!), so if your home state doesn’t have one, it’s very likely a neighboring state does! And there’s no better time to hike, bike, forage for mushrooms or berries, or camp at a nearby national forest than this month. The tree-filled landscape will provide shade and help you beat the summer heat, and to further incentivize visitors, the U.S. Forest Service (the organization that oversees the national forests) is offering a fee-free day on Saturday, June 12, in honor of National Get Outdoors Day! While parking and day-use fees to access national forests tend to be relatively modest, fee-free days open up the opportunity to all visitors. The U.S. Forest Service has a great interactive map tool that prospective park-goers can use to learn more about the forests in their area, amenities and activities, and

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Sycamore 815.756.7413 • DeKalb 815.754.4200

The Bockman’s Bonus! Don’t Miss Our Special Offer This Month! $50 instant rebate and $50 mail-in rebate when buying $250 in qualifying brake parts. This offer is valid between May 1 and June 30, 2021, so don’t wait! See shop for details.

for early signs of damage. This could save you money on costly repairs and ensure your vehicle is in top running condition. When it comes to the air conditioning unit, technicians can identify early signs of fan, compressor, or condenser destruction, and they could recommend a time table for air filter replacement.

Pro Tip: Your home’s air conditioning unit is not that much different from your vehicle’s system. So, consider this — provide your vehicle’s system

with the same level of maintenance as you would your home’s unit. Schedule tuneups at the same time to ensure both function properly. Run It Frequently Keep this tip in mind for the cooler months! Your vehicle’s cooling system should run at least once every week for a few minutes. This keeps the components of the system fresh and limber. Plus, cool air removes stinky, mold-causing humidity from your vehicle. Even if you

prefer to drive with the windows rolled down during the summer, spend a few moments each week in the cool air conditioning air to keep your vehicle’s system running smoothly.

Clients of the Month

If your vehicle’s cooling system does go on the fritz this summer, don’t sweat it! Your Bockman’s team can locate the source of the issue and fix it in no time. Schedule an appointment today by giving us a call.

Cris Woodin and Carlin Crutcher

National Forest for Free

Meet Our Loyal Clients!

et Outdoors Day

RYAN ALDIS ELMER ANDERSON TINA COVERT

JORDAN STEFFA MARK STEWART APRIL VALERIUS NANCY WADDELL TYLER WALKER RANDY WATERS MIKE WECKERLY GRACE WHITE MARIAN WILLIAMS MARTIN WITT MARY CASTLE DEKALB AUTO SALES RICHARD GRZYWA MICHAEL OUIMET PEDERSEN BUILDERS

NANCEE DEMINGS JASON DIERICKS JACOB GAMMELGAARD PETER GRAY LUKE HERRENBRUCK BILL HOFER JONATHAN JUDGE ELLEN KULICK ANDREW KULPA KIMBERLY LEWIS MARK LIMBACH MARK MANNEBACH VALERIE ORIGEL MIKE & DEBBIE PARKER

accessibility. Visit FS.fed.us/ivm/ to access the map and see what’s near your hometown!

If you’re dreaming up travel plans beyond your state’s border, consider visiting these notable U.S. national forests.

• El Yunque National Forest: Located in Puerto Rico, El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the United States. • Tongass National Forest: Spanning 16.7 million acres and several islands across Southeast Alaska, the Tongass is the country’s largest national forest. • Salmon-Challis National Forest: This Idaho forest is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 and contains the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. • Cibola National Forest and Grassland: Spread across north-central New Mexico, west Texas, and Oklahoma, this forest and grassland area is notable for its diverse ecosystems and wildlife. The Sky Islands portion of the park is also home to over 200 rare plant and animal species.

PIPESTONE, INC NICK SALSBERRY

MORGAN SALOW ELIJAH SAUCEDO JOE SMITH

ANDY & TERI SHOWS SPARK GINGER LLC

Sycamore 815.756.7413 • DeKalb 815.754.4200

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Bockman’s Auto Care 2158 Oakland Dr. Sycamore, IL 60178 815.756.7413 Bockman’s Truck & Fleet 815.754.4200

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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Why I’m Lucky This Father’s Day

DIY or Buy: Summer Lawn Games Keep Your Ride Cool With 3 Air Conditioning Maintenance Tips Have You Explored a National Forest?

Clients of the Month

Get a Free Oil Change, Courtesy of Our Customer Care Program

Want a FREE Oil Change? Check Out Our Customer Care Program!

As a vehicle owner, you know there are certain expenses that come with ownership. Gas fill-ups, fluid exchanges, tire rotations and replacement, windshield wiper care, and other costs can all cause a serious dent to your bank account. So, what if you could save some money and guarantee your vehicle is protected? That’s exactly what members of Bockman’s Customer Care Program are promised! One of the many perks the members in this program receive is free oil changes. For every four oil changes members have done at Bockman’s, they receive the fifth oil change for free. There are no limits on how many times members can receive this fifth free oil change — potentially saving them at least $100 every year!

Any experienced vehicle owner knows how big this expense this can be. All of the pieces of your vehicle work together, and fresh, clean oil keeps your vehicle’s engine lubricated, which allows it to pump and move, propelling your vehicle forward. It’s an essential part of a vehicle’s function that cannot be forgotten. Depending on your vehicle’s needs and the type of oil you use, your oil needs to be changed every 3,000 miles traveled, but synthetic oils can last up to 6,000 miles. Driving habits can also impact how often your oil needs to be replaced, but some drivers need an oil change up to four times each year. That could mean spending anywhere from $70– $100 per change. Instead, our free oil change perk as part of the Bockman’s Customer Care Program allows you to ensure your

vehicle runs smoothly while putting some of the money you save on every fifth oil change back into your pocket. Oil changes are a requirement to owning a vehicle, but they shouldn’t become a dreaded cost. With Bockman’s Customer Care Program free oil change perk, you can look forward to earning a free oil change with every fifth replacement, save money, and protect your vehicle. Don’t miss out on this great perk! Learn more about our Customer Care Program at BockmansAutoCare.com/Customer- Care-Program/ .

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Sycamore 815.756.7413 • DeKalb 815.754.4200