A mixed convection flow and heat transfer of pseudo-plastic power law nanofluid past a stretching vertical plate is investigated. Three types of nano-particles, such as copper (Cu), aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and titanium oxide (TiO2), are considered. The generalized Fourier law proposed by Zheng for varying thermal conductivity of nanofluids, which is dependent on the power law of velocity gradient as well as the nano particles property, is taken into account. Dual solutions are obtained by Bvp4c with Matlab. The stability of the solution also is discussed by introducing the unsteady governing equations. Furthermore, a new interesting phenomenon is found: the local Nusselt number do not maintain the similar characteristics of Newtonian fluid near the point where the velocity ratio is equal to 0.5. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.