Quote Originally Posted by rick130 View Post
That's not what actually happens though.

As soon as the crank starts to turn, a hydrodynamic wedge of oil forms and lifts the crank and bearing shell apart and the crank journal floats on this.

The pressure provided by the pump is there purely to prevent the oil wedge overheating by pushing the existing oil away and replenishing with nice, cool(er) oil.
That's what I meant!