Whole crude and bottoms fractions from distillation of petroleum are upgraded by high temperature, short time contact with a fluidizable solid of essentially inert character to deposit high boiling components of the charge on the solid whereby Conradson Carbon values, salt content and metal content are reduced. The upgraded hydrocarbon fraction may be supplied to fractionator, in which case the high temperatue contactor serves as a heater, e.g. crude heater for crude distillation, in addition to improving quality of the fractions derived by distillation. For charge stocks boiling above about 500.degree.-650.degree. F., the upgrading process yields a product suitable for charge to catalytic cracking in that Conradson Carbon, salts and metals are reduced to levels tolerable in catalytic cracking.