Positive displacement machines and methods therefor capable of increasing a load-carrying capacity of a piston-cylinder lubrication interface of positive displacement machines having a cylinder block, a cylindrical bore defined in the cylinder block, a piston reciprocably disposed within the cylindrical bore, and a working fluid within the piston-cylinder lubrication interface to provide a load-bearing function between the piston and the bore wall of the cylinder bore. The method includes providing at least one circumferential groove on a bore wall of the cylindrical bore within the piston-cylinder lubrication interface having an opening facing the piston and that is in fluidic communication with the piston-cylinder lubrication interface so as to contain a portion of the working fluid, and operating the positive displacement machine such that the working fluid enters the cylindrical groove and promotes hydrostatic balancing of pressure of the working fluid within the piston-cylinder lubrication interface.