how long to replace a valve lifter. #4 cyl.

Hello, which engine do you have in this Escape? What makes you think you have a bad lifter? I spent years with Ford dealership service departments, and from the inception of the Ford Escape through 2015, I never saw a single faulty lifter (valve tappet). Not one. As such, the statistical probability of you having a faulty lifter is very small. What are your symptoms? What tear down have you performed following the symptom?