In this article, we investigate the nonlinear steady state boundary layer flow and heat transfer of an incompressible Jeffery non-Newtonian fluid from a permeable horizontal isothermal cylinder. The transformed conservation equations are solved numerically subject to physically appropriate boundary conditions using a versatile, implicit, finite-difference technique. The numerical code is validated with previous studies. The influence of a number of emerging non-dimensional parameters, namely with Deborah number (De), surface suction parameter (S), Prandtl number (Pr), ratio of relaxation to retardation times (λ) and dimensionless tangential coordinate (ξ) on velocity and temperature evolution in the boundary layer regime are examined in detail. Furthermore, the effects of these parameters on surface heat transfer rate and local skin friction are also investigated. It is found that the velocity is reduced with increasing Deborah number whereas temperature is enhanced. Increasing λ enhances the velocity but reduces the temperature. The heat transfer rates is found to be depressed with increasing Deborah number, De, and enhanced with increasing λ. Local skin friction is found to be decreased with a rise in Deborah number whereas it is elevated with increasing values of relaxation to retardation time ratio (λ). Increasing suction decelerates the flow and cools the boundary layer i.e. reduces temperatures. With increasing tangential coordinate, the flow is also decelerated whereas the temperatures are enhanced. The simulation is relevant to polymer coating thermal processing. Polymeric enrobing flows are important in industrial manufacturing technology and process systems. Such flows are non-Newtonian. Motivated by such applications, we did the present problem. © 2017, Global Digital Central. All rights reserved.