Non-isothermal polymeric flow past an asymmetrically confined cylinder has been analyzed using a finite-element based numerical technique. The fluid model in this numerical simulation is a differential-type non-isothermal Bird-Carreau model describing the non-Newtonian behavior of the melt. The generated thermal field is entirely due to viscous heating. Drag, lift force and heat transfer on the cylinder and other flow characteristics are predicted. The influences of cylinder lateral position and Reynolds number are also investigated. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.