A crude oil feedstream is treated to remove or reduce the content of undesired metal components including nickel and/or vanadium by contacting the feedstream with one or more solid adsorbent materials selected from attapulgus clay, alumina, silica gel and activated carbon in a mixing vessel for a time that is sufficient to optimize the adsorption of the undesired metal components from the crude oil, subjecting the mixture to atmospheric flash distillation and then to vacuum flash distillation to recover presorted boiling ranges of products having a lowered content of the undesired metal components, and preferably regenerating at least a portion of the solid adsorbent material for reuse in the process.